As I sit on the start line of my World Championship race, I watch the waves in front of me and hear the water tapping on my boat. I close my eyes and visualise the rapids ahead of me and confirm what path I am going to paddle down to achieve the fastest line down the race course. I glance to my left to see the clock counting me down, thirty seconds to go. I lift my shoulders up and down to release the tension and I try to calm my thoughts and reduce my racing heart. Fifteen seconds to go, I take a deep breath and then take a moment to smile. On the 28th of August 2002, I was 20 years old and...