The battle for Olympic and national team selection commences for Australia’s best canoe slalom athletes at the Australian Open in Penrith from 5 to 7 February.
 
The Australian Open will be the first of two selection events, with the Oceania Championships to follow from 19 to 21 February.
 
Following the conclusion of the Oceania Championships those athletes who have met the selection criteria will be nominated to the Australian Olympic Committee.
 
This year’s Australian Open will have a mini Olympic feel to it with an array of international stars from 24 countries set to compete.
 
They include 2015 men’s K1 world champion Jiri Prskavec of the Czech Republic, German C2 world champions Franz Anton and Jan Benzien, and women’s K1 world champion Katerina Kudejova.
 
With such a high-class field in attendance, the event will provide the athletes with a true reflection of where they are at leading in Rio.
 
Jessica Fox and Lucien Delfour will lead a strong Australian contingent.

Fox who will be looking to secure a second Olympic berth after winning silver in London. While Delfour will be looking to build on a consistent 2015 having ended the year at number three in the K1 world rankings
 
Other Australian’s to follow closely will include Rosalyn Lawrence, who upstaged Fox to win the national title in Tasmania last month and Warwick Draper, who will be chasing a record fourth Olympic Games K1 berth.