Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    JOHANNESBURG, August 2 (Xinhua) -- The largest contingent of South African canoeists ever to take part in the Olympic Games will begin the campaign in the slalom and sprint events confident of reaching the finals in a number of events with two genuine chances to win medals.

    Flatwater sprinters Shaun Rubenstein and Jen Hodson are both serious medal contenders and have both wrapped up their Olympic preparations at their camp in Szolnok in the best shape of their careers and itching to start their challenge for Olympic glory, according to the South African Press Association.

    "If I can get my peak and all other aspects involved in having a perfect race right, I believe I am good enough to win a medal," said Rubenstein, who has been a regular feature on the A finals for both the 500 and 1,000 meters K1 races at the World Cup regattas in the build-up to the Olympic Games.

    "My training has been going very well. We are starting to do a lot more training on the course to prepare our bodies for the intense racing that is coming up," said Rubenstein, who has been training with fellow South Africans Ant Stott and Nic Burden, as well as fellow Olympians Australian Ken Wallace and Slovenia's Jupancic Regent.

    Hodson is also optimistic about a strong challenge for a medal in the A final of the women's 500 meters K1.

    Hodson will also anchor the high flying women's K4 that has rocketed from obscurity to being a genuine force in the tough and competitive world of international K4 racing.

    The slalom and flatwater events will be held at the new purpose built facility nestled in the forest park region of Shunyi, 40 kilometers to the north of the center of Beijing.

    The slalom competition starts on August 11 while the flatwater racing gets under way on August 18.