DAVID Florence has a gap on his curriculum vitae.
He is a double world champion, double Olympic silver medallist and winner of numerous World Cup medals, but he has never won an individual medal at the European Championships. It is something the Scot wants to put right as he sets off today for Leipzig where the European Canoe Slalom Championships herald the start of his international season on Friday.
With the World Championships to come, staged on his home course at Lee Valley just before Olympic selection for Rio, it has all gone to perfection so far, with Florence winning six races out of six at the British Trials to confirm his place in the Great Britain team at both C1 and C2 (with English partner Richard Hounslow).
After spending 2014 at world No 1, the Aberdeen-born paddler knows there is a queue waiting to knock him off his pedestal. The 32-year-old can handle it.
"I've been someone who has been expected to paddle well for many years now, probably since Beijing in 2008," he said. "There are a lot of good guys pushing and the sport is as competitive as it has ever been in the time I've been involved. It's small margins that are making the difference. There are different people that can be up there on any given day."
Florence says that while there is undoubtedly rivalry, out of competition there is friendship and respect. The Scot has spent two five-day blocks of training on the Leipzig course this year and, on the second visit with C2 partner Hounslow, he trained with Franz Anton and Jan Benzien, a top German pairing who will also be competing for a European title this week.
"We spend so much time together. Every venue is so different and, wherever the major championships are then you will find yourself training there at the same time as a lot of internationals. Inevitably, you get to know each other," said Florence, who will be competing with three other Scots in Leipzig with Fiona Pennie seeking to regain the women's kayak crown she won in 2013 and Eilidh Gibson (women's C1) and Bradley Forbes-Cryans (men's K1) taking part in their first European Championships.
"Also, you are not competing directly. There's no set rivalry between two individuals; you have to have a good run and try to beat everyone."
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