Alan Van Coller

2004-07-19 11:57

Full Name: Date of Birth:	Alan  Van Coller 1967/10/09
Height:	1.78m
Weight:	78kg
Player Achievements:	Personal bests : 8th in the 500m K1 final at Sydney Olympics. : A personal best time of 1.37.1 in the 500m at world champs in 2003. National records: 500m K1 - 1.37.1, 200m K1- 36.3, 1000m K4 - 2.59 International medals: Brazil World cup 2000, 2 bronze medals Other achievements: 4th in the 500m K1 at the World Cup in Belgium in 2002 and 2003 Qualifying for the Sydney Olympics SA K1 sprint champ for 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003. 2004
Description:	Canoeist and Research Ecologist PhD student when not canoeing (Johannesburg) I would hope to make a final in the 500m so that I could have a crack at a medal. My hope would be to race faster than I have ever raced in my life - to have an almost perfect race.
Olympic Hero:	When I was a youngster, I always admired the achievements of Sebastian Coe (middle distance runner from Great Britain). Presently there are many Olympic athletes I admire, with people such as Penny Heyns and Knut Holman (from Norway - double gold medallist in Kayak sprint at Sydney) being top of the list.
Favourite Olympic Moment:	Personally my best Olympic moment was cracking the 500m K1 final at the Sydney Olympics where I eventually finished 8th. Another favourite moment was being in the Sydney Olympic swimming stadium to see Terrence Parkin win his Silver. Also, Josiah Thugwane, Penny Heyns and Hezekiel Sepeng winning their medals in Atlanta were incredibly inspirational moments for me.

- News24