RIO DE JANEIRO - Competing in the C1 Men event this tuesday, two-time canoe slalom Olympic silver medallist David FLORENCE (GBR) had an extra reason to thank his father as he arrived in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games.

Because FLORENCE's dad, George - himself a former Scotland national team paddler - was the pilot of the British Airways plane which flew his son and other members of the Great Britain team to Brazil.

"It's very, very cool that he could do that," FLORENCE said as he completed his first training session at the Whitewater Stadium in the Deodoro X-Park last week. "He managed to try his best to get hold of that route because he'd known for a while that we were flying out that day."

While many of the more than 10,000 athletes competing at the Games could thank a dedicated parent or two for driving them to countless training sessions and qualifying events on their roads to Rio, few will be able to say they were flown to the Olympic start line by their father. FLORENCE, however, appeared unfazed.

"That's his job and he has done it since I was born, so it doesn't seem as bizarre to me as it obviously does to some other people."

The Beijing 2008 silver medallist in the men's canoe single event and London 2012 silver medallist in the double revealed that he had been allowed into the cockpit after landing to thank his father and the co-pilots. Before that, George FLORENCE had offered some words of encouragement to Team GB during his regular PA address to his passengers.

"He wished everyone well for the Games but he's coming back out to watch me anyway - in fact he's supported me at every Olympics I've been at, so I'll see him again before long."

Asked if he fancied following George into the cockpit when he retires from paddling, he said: "It seems to like an amazing thing to get to do. He did it straight from school and it is what he has always done, but for now I'm going to focus on the canoeing. It's something I would love to do, but who knows if my life will go that way."

FLORENCE will be one of the favourites in the C1 Men event this tuesday in Rio. Semifinals start at 1.30pm local time.