The athletes unveiled yesterday at Eton Dorney, the Olympic venue for the flat-water canoe sprint, were Olympic champion Tim Brabants, Richard Jefferies, Ed McKeever, Jonathan Schofield, Liam Heath, Jessica Walker, Rachel Cawthorn, Angela Hannah and Louisa Sawers.

However, they will now be joined by one more female athlete after an additional women's host nation place was awarded to canoeing, with the athlete taking that spot to be decided by the GB Canoeing International Panel.

"Further to yesterday's British Olympic Association (BOA) selection of nine canoe sprint athletes to Team GB, GB Canoeing is pleased to confirm that it has been awarded a women's host nation place, in line with expectations," said a statement.

"The GB Canoeing International Panel will meet on Monday 25 June 2012, when they will determine who will be nominated to the BOA for this fifth women's place.

"The nomination will be made to the BOA for formal selection and will be announced in due course."


The canoe sprint events will take place at Eton Dorney between August 6 and 11 with Brabants (pictured above), Britain's most decorated athlete in the sport, likely to be the hosts' biggest gold medal contender as he looks to defend the men's K1 1,000 metre title he won at Beijing 2008.

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

"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 at the announcement.

"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 at 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."

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June 2012: Brabants to join GB's nine-strong flat-water canoe sprint team at London 2012