With her vast international experience it was hardly surprising that Marie-Josee Gibeau-Ouimet received a bye for a spot on the women's K-4 500-metres Olympic crew. She made her first national team in 1988 and was one of Canada's top paddlers at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. She placed fifth in both the K-2 and K-4 500 at those Games.

  In 2000, she'll sit in the front of the boat and lead a young team in the K-4 event which was determined after World Cup events in May and June.

 "The paddler at the front initiates the rhythm of the race and maintains it throughout," said Gibeau-Ouimet, a world champion in the non-Olympic K-2 200 in 1998. "When you're the leader you need a sixth sense and have eyes at the back of your head so you can keep tabs on the development of the race. It's a big challenge."

2000 Games
Sept. 30: Women's K-4 500m: Carrie Lightbound, Mississauga; Julia Rivard, North Bay, Ont.; Kamini Jain, Calgary; Marie-Josee Gibeau-Ouimet, Lachine, Que., wound up ninth in final.
Sept. 28: Women's K-4 500m: Carrie Lightbound, Mississauga; Julie Rivard, North Bay, Ont.; Kamini Jain, Calgary, and Marie-Josee Gibeau-Ouimet, Lachine, Que., were third in semifinal heat, advanced to final.
Sept. 26: Women's K-4 500: Marie-Jones Gibeau-Ouimet, Lachine, Que.; Carrie Lightbound, Mississauga, Ont.; Julie Rivard, North Bay, Ont.; Kamini Jain, Calgary, placed fifth in heat, advanced to semifinals.


Photos
Canada's women's K4 team


2000 Games Canoe & Kayak Coverage