Following his success at Beijing 2008, the 35-year-old from Chertsey gave up competing to concentrate on his career in medicine, but returned to the sport shortly afterwards.

After a long battle for qualification, Brabants (pictured above and below, centre) has now secured his berth at London 2012.

"This will be my fourth Olympic Games but I'm obviously more excited than ever for this one because it is London 2012 and it is at home," Brabants told insidethegames.

"It has been a tough road to get to this point but now that the selection process is complete, I can really focus on defending my Olympic title in London 2012.

"It is great to be part of a big team this time round and I can't wait to be back here at Eton Dorney for the start of the Games.

Brabants is one of eight British athletes that will compete in the Olympic sprint kayak competition.


Richard Jefferies (pictured below and above, fourth right), 25 and from the Isle of Wight, will be the only British athlete to race in the canoe where he will compete in both the men's C1 200m and C1 1000m events.

"Four years ago representing Team GB was one of those dreams along with being a rock star and dating a super model," said Jefferies, who was fast-tracked into canoeing through UK Sport's Sporting Giants programme.

"Now thanks to UK Sport and GB Canoeing one of those dreams is now reality and I can't thank them enough for helping to make it a dream come true."

London 2012 also marks the inauguration of 200m events with Edward McKeever (pictured above, far right) selected to Team GB to race in the men's K1 200m after winning the gold in the first two World Cup events of 2012.

The partnership of Jonathan Schofield (pictured above, second right) and Liam Heath (pictured above, third right), who have won two silver medals in their World Cup events this year, will compete in the men's K2 200m where they will be strong gold medal contenders.

Meanwhile 22-year-old Jessica Walker (pictured above, fourth left), who made her Olympic debut in Beijing in the K2 500m, will become Britain's first ever representative in the women's K1 200m event.

The women's K1 500m race will be contested by Olympic bronze medallist Rachel Cawthorn (pictured above, third left), who won gold over 1000m at the 2010 European Championships in Trasona.

The team is completed by the pairing of Angela Hannah (pictured above, left) and Louisa Sawers (pictured above, second left), two individual female canoeists that will combine their efforts in the women's K4 500m.


"The Canoe Sprint team has really progressed since Tim Brabants won the first ever medal for Team GB by taking bronze in Sydney back in 2000," said Team GB Chef de Mission Andy Hunt, who made the announcement here.

"The fans in attendance at Eton Dorney will be treated to a spectacular competition at a stunning venue and this is a great opportunity for our athletes to win medals on home waters.

"Having a veteran and defending Olympic champion like Tim in the team will be a huge inspiration to everyone involved, and it is a chance for the younger competitors and the debutants to use that kind of motivation to create their own Olympic legacy."

The canoe sprint events will take place from August 6-11 while the addition of the nine athletes brings the total number of competitors officially selected to compete for Team GB at London 2012 to 242 across twenty sport disciplines.

"I am delighted that our canoe sprint team has been officially selected today after what has been a tough process over the last two months," added GB Canoeing performance director John Anderson.

"It is both the largest and the strongest team we have had in the last four Olympic Games and I would like to extend my congratulations to all the athletes and coaches and wish them all the best for the Games."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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