GB hope Capousek (right) will build on the two medals Brabants won in Beijing

GB's flatwater canoeists have turned to one of the world's top coaches, aiming to improve on their two Beijing medals.

Josef Capousek, credited with achieving 156 World Championship and 31 Olympic medals over the last 30 years, worked with China in the build-up to Beijing.

Despite qualifying nine crews, he was sacked six weeks before the Games after a fall-out with Chinese authorities.

"There are very few coaches who have achieved such sustained success," said performance director John Anderson.

"Josef's record speaks for itself - the athletes he has coached have collectively won 17 Olympic gold medals - more than any other coach in the history of the sport."

Czech-born Capousek, 63, led Germany to 18 Olympic golds before taking the job with China in 2005.

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He left complaining that Chinese athletes were overworked and the team emerged with only one medal from Beijing, in the men's C2 500m.

Ian Wynne, who won bronze for Great Britain at the Athens Olympics, started work in a similar coaching role on 1 April, ahead of the competitive season.

GB Canoeing has set an overall aim of two gold medals at London 2012 and, after David Florence won slalom silver and Tim Brabants a gold and bronze in sprint events, they are well positioned.

The highlights of this season are the European Championships in Germany in June and the World Championships in Dartmouth, Canada, in August.

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