CANOE sprint paddler Richard Jefferies got his first taste of Olympic action yesterday as he bowed out at the semi-final stage of the C1 1000m event.

The 25-year-old, from the Isle of Wight, specialises in the shorter 200m event and only entered the longer distance through obligation after taking up a host nation spot at these Games.

And his lack of endurance training showed as Jefferies came home last in his semi-final in a time of 4:49.074minutes, over 45 seconds down on the winner.

Not that it particularly bothered Jefferies who was just glad of the chance to sample the atmosphere ahead of the serious business later in the week on Friday.

“This was all about experience and getting out there and testing the water,” he said.

“I’m really focused on the 200m event, that’s what I have been training for last three years in and that is the event I want to do well in.

“All my work has been focused on that so this was another training session to be quite honest, that was the first time I have gone over 300m in three years.

“I was just trying to save energy, I hit the start because that’s good practice but after that I was really just saving energy so that I did not tire myself out.

“It’s good to get out there, I need the experience as much as everything but it would be disrespectful to think I could go out and race against the other 1000m guys, they are flying.

“I will take it all in my stride, I was worried I would get fatigued or injure something but I came through unscathed.”

Jefferies attention will now turn to the 200m event on Friday and the Bembridge paddler is confident that he has what it takes to rival the big names when that gets underway.

“I'm feeling really good in the 200m, my training has been going well and the times that I have been posting mean that I have a chance to make it to the final so that’s what I'm aiming for,” he added.

“With this wind though, you get lucky in the lane draws or you get unlucky so who knows what’s going to happen.”