Ferguson heading to fourth Olympics

Steven Ferguson will head to his fourth Olympics this year, but has plenty of faith in his younger teammate who's going to his first.

Ferguson and Daryl Fitzgerald have been confirmed to race in the K2 1000 in the kayaking team at the London Games.

31-year-old Ferguson says they'll be a much stronger unit this year.

"Having that four or five minutes training together is going to make a massive difference, whereas last year we only spent probably three weeks prior to racing together so being second year, twice as much confidence in what we're doing and where we're at."

The kayakers will sacrifice being desperate to win at the World Cup events so they don't give anything away in the build up to the Olympics.

Ferguson says they are focusing solely on the Games.

"World Cups are just an opportunity to get some racing under our belt. We're not going there to win or anything like that."

However Ferguson represented New Zealand in swimming at the 2000 Sydney Games and admits he's nearing the end.

"I don't want to say it's going to be my last but I'm definitely going to have a break after these Olympics from kayaking and focus on surf life saving for a couple of years."

First time Olympian Lisa Carrington will lead the five-strong team having won gold at the World Champs in the K1 200 in Poland.

Photo: Steven Ferguson (Photosport)