Breakfast Olympians: George Riley
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When approached by the 5 live Breakfast team to try out for an Olympic sport, I said I'd happily try anything involving a ball. It sounded fun, I still kid myself that I'm a bit of a sportsman, and after all the sun was bound to be out in the middle of July.
The next thing I know I'm being driven through monsoon rain along the M4 to Eton for an afternoon in a K2 canoe. Not quite what I had in mind.
Indeed the only previous occasion that I'd sat in a kayak was on a summer holiday in the Dordogne in which my dad proceeded to navigate us through some rather ferocious white water rapids.
So I wasn't massively optimistic about impressing in my new sport. Fortunately, this time it wasn't Tony Riley at the front of the canoe, but instead one of Team GB's sprint coaches, Ian Wynne.
Several elite athletes were training out on Dorney Lake, the venue for the rowing and kayak events at London 2012. As I walked to the changing rooms I was put at ease by how simple they were making it look. The rain had stopped, the sun had appeared, and I was poised for a pleasant session of canoeing.
Having donned the necessary waterproofs, Ian showed me how to hold a paddle, and crucially, how to step from jetty to canoe without ending up in the water. "What chance us going for a swim today do you think?" I asked my boss for the day. "Looking at you, I'd say very high."
To Ian's amazement, and to the obvious disappointment of the 5 live team filming the session, I negotiated two outings relatively unscathed. Balance was an issue, but Ian made sure we stayed upright. It was incredibly difficult and makes you appreciate how good our elite athletes are.
Then on the third effort, after being overtaken at pace by TEAM GB's elite K2 pair Jon Schofield and Liam Heath, I relaxed thinking it was all over. That split second lack of concentration, coupled with a glance sideways was enough to capsize the boat, and not even Ian could save us this time.
The overall verdict? I'll probably need to buy tickets if I'm to be at the canoeing at London 2012.
George Riley is 5 live Breakfast's sports reporter
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