Two-time Olympian Carrie Johnson (pictured below) and Ryan Dolan both go to Oklahoma knowing that a victory at the trials will secure their spots for London 2012, for which the US will be sending two sprint kayakers.

A winner of two gold medals at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, last year, 500 metres sprint kayaker Johnson is relishing the battle ahead.

"I am really excited to race for a spot on my third Olympic Team," she said.

"I know that everyone has been training very hard and there is going to be some great racing."

Johnson, who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2003, will face competition from Maggie Hogan, Kaitlyn McElroy and Jen Burke.

A bronze medallist from Guadalajara, 22-year-old Dolan is battling for the single kayak 200m spot against his brother Patrick.

Other rivals for the Olympic spot will be Luke and Jake Michael and 12 time national champion Tim Hornsby.

"[I'm] looking forward to Trials and racing everyone," said Dolan.


"Two hundred metre races are all close, so it's going to be some great racing with the Olympic spot on the line."

If either Johnson or Dolan fail to win their races, then the battle for the Olympic spot will continue at the World Cup event in Duisburg, Germany, on May 19 and 20.

America's Paracanoeists will also be competing on Friday, with men and women battling it out in the single kayak 200m races for a place at the ICF Paracanoe World Championships.

Paracanoe makes its Paralympic debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

The trials for the 2012 ICF World Cup are also taking place in Oklahoma.

This is the second successive Olympic Games for which trials are taking place at Oklahoma, and USA Canoe/Kayak national teams director William Irving is glad to be back.

"Being back in Oklahoma City again for the 2012 US Olympic Team Trials, is an exciting time for our competitors as two athletes will be looking to solidify their spots on the 2012 Olympic Team," he said.

"It will for sure be some exciting racing as athletes have been training hard in what was a short off season to win in Oklahoma City."

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