European Champion Fiona Pennie was also in attendance at the relaunch of the London 2012 Olympic canoe slalom venue, which is due to host the International Canoe Federation (ICF) Slalom World Cup on June 6 until 8, the first international competition to take place at the facility since the Games.

The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, British Canoe Union and Sport England-funded work means the centre now includes a British Canoeing slalom performance centre for its athletes and coaching team, as well as a gym, physiotherapy suite, more changing rooms, an expanded cafe with a bigger outdoor terrace and a new pavilion.

Hounslow, a current C2 world champion and London 2012 silver medallist, said his sport could not have asked for anything more from an Olympic legacy.

"The facility as a whole is without a doubt, the best in the world," he added.

"The Olympic course and the new performance centre have everything I will need to give myself the best possible chance of going for gold in Rio [2016 Olympics].

"The Legacy Loop is a perfect introduction to white water for the talent ID kids that have been coming on leaps and bounds since their introduction to the sport last year.

"And to top all of this off, I am really looking forward to once again racing in front of a home crowd at the opening World Cup race of the 2014 season and again at the 2015 World Championships."

Albert Woods, chairman of the British Canoe Union, also claimed the Lee Valley White Water Centre "will help to enable GB Canoeing to prepare to their best ability and achieve their vision of being the number one Olympic and Paralympic canoeing nation".

"A permanent canoe slalom base in the south of England will also help support upcoming talent and ensure that we have the breadth and depth with the GB Canoeing squad," he said.

Since opening, the centre has attracted around 330,000 visitors with 60,000 people having rafted and more than 30,000 participants having tried canoeing or kayaking
©Lee Valley Regional Park Authority


The venue begins the season with "March Mayhem" for the public, where a raft charter for up to nine people costs £30 ($50/€37) per person on any Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Sunday in the month.

Visitors can also take part in hydrospeeding, which is an extreme sport similar to bodyboarding, and hot dog sessions, which involve navigating down the white water rapids in an inflatable kayak.

"As well as benefitting the elite athletes and next generation of paddlers who train and compete here everyone will be able to take advantage of this inspirational world class venue," Shaun Dawson, chief executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, said.

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