His bulging trophy cabinet glints with the precious metal of a 2004 Olympic silver and a 2007 World Championship bronze.  And as Campbell Walsh, Scotland's canoe slalom ace points out, he'd love to add an Olympic gold. "There's definitely some space in there for a gold medal. If not I'll create some," he laughs en route to a race in Scotland from his home and training base in Nottingham.

But before the 30 year-old athlete dares to dream of clinching 2008 Olympic gold in Beijing, the Glasgow born paddler knows he must first emerge triumphant from three crucial races this month which selectors will use to decide who will be GB's sole men's canoe slalom (K1) representative at the Games. 

And though Walsh will enter the white-water of the Zoetemeer course in Holland on 11th and 12th April as the highest ranked (K1) British paddler in the world, the self-effacing Scot is under no illusions of the formidable competition he faces; let alone the task of safely negotiating 250 metres of boiling Dutch water and 25 tight slalom gates.

"It won't be easy. The competition will be very tight," says the world no.4, matter-of-factly, explaining his best two results from the three races will count towards his overall score and Olympic hopes.

Moreover, there's not a hint of arrogance as Walsh, a former Scottish Junior Champion, acknowledges he's the favourite to safely paddle his way into GB's Olympic team.  "There will not be much room for error. You can only afford to have one bad race."

So, it promises to be a dramatic final race in Nottingham on 19th April with the Scotsman's rivals determined to shatter his dream.

Among Walsh's main threats is Richard Hounslow, ranked 9th in the world and 4th at the 2007 World Championships. Indeed, only Walsh enjoys a higher world ranking among the British men battling for honours in the K1 discipline.

Yet based on recent results, it could be argued the Scot has the psychological edge over his rival. 4th to Hownslow's 8th at the Australian Open in January, Walsh defeated Hownslow by almost a second in Wales last month. Last weekend (30th March) at Grandtully in Perthshire he did it again, defeating the Englishman by almost 3.5 seconds to win a Premier Division (K1) race in Grandtully, Perthshire.

Still, driven by a steely determination to emulate his success in Athens four years ago, Walsh isn't in the mood to allow such results on the British (domestic) calendar to interfere with his focus on the bigger picture.

What's more, the UK Sport Olympic Podium Programme funded athlete isn't about to readily admit to feeling any additional pressure prior to the crucial qualification races in Holland and Nottingham. "Sure, I'll be disappointed if I don't get the (qualifying) spot. I realise these races are really big but on the face of it they are no different to other major events. Let's face it, as an athlete this is what I train to do."

So, as ever, Walsh maintains his air of quiet confidence.  But in his quest to board the GB plane for Beijing, he will be silently praying the elements he regards as essential to be the best in canoe slalom don't suddenly desert him in his month of need. As he explains: "In this game you need skill, mental toughness and physical power. The toughest part is putting those together to perform well consistently. A lot of guys can do one good fast run but only a handful are fast in every run of every competition. And I consider myself one of them."
 
Under the supervision of head coach, Jurg Gotz, Walsh attends up to twelve canoe sessions per week and lifts weights.  Notably, the athlete reveals there's no room for cycling or running in his training regime. "That won't help me paddle faster," claims the athlete.

However, there is the occasional room in his diet for a chip buttie and bottle of Irn Bru. "Must be my Scottishness," he quips.

Bru and chips aside, Walsh is meticulous in his pre-competition preparation. Yet the affable athlete is aware that there's always one constantly volatile factor that can play havoc with even the finest race preparation. White-water.  As Walsh himself puts it, conditions on some courses can be akin to paddling in a pot of boiling water. 

The aerated waters of the artificially created Zoetermeer course are said to be particularly challenging with water cascading down an eight metre gradient over 250 metres.  Battling such conditions, competitors must balance the need for maximum speed with avoiding time penalties. To hit a gate adds 2-seconds to your time. Miss one and it's 50 seconds. The latter scenario would almost certainly quash Walsh's hopes of competing in Beijing.

So for Walsh, a Mathematics and Physics graduate who also happens to nurture a dream of being an astronaut, the stakes this month are high. But whatever happens by the 20th April, the Scot is adamant he won't be stepping back from the big stage.

"I've no intention of retiring," says Walsh with an uncharacteristic firmness.  "I enjoy it too much." Indeed, events this month will determine which World Cup races in the late spring and autumn he signs up for. He already plans to compete at the European Championships in Krakow, Poland in May.

But for now his thoughts are on this month, at the end of which he hopes to have done enough to begin preparing for the white water of Beijing. "I'll win an Olympic gold if I perform to the best of my ability," he says.  After all, there's that space in his trophy cabinet to fill. 

CH
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See Campbell's profile on the Scottish Institute of Sport website by clicking here. 

Photography by Rob Eyton-Jones