By Rikki SwannellToday, the Herald starts a countdown of New Zealand’s 25 greatest Olympians. Gold: Kayaking, K-1 1000m, Los Angeles, 1984Gold: Kayaking, K-4 1000m, Los Angeles, 1984Alan Thompson is the name you know and the face you recognise, but perhaps the one you can't quite put your finger on. • Believing his young paddlers weren't working hard enough, Thompson returned to racing in 1993, winning the national K-1 1000m title. Thompson was part of New Zealand's golden era of flatwater canoe racing in the 1980s. Lining up in Thompson's old event, the K-1 1000m, will be Marty McDowell, who was initially coached by the legend as a raw 18-year old a few years ago.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 11, 2016 17:03 UTC