Few British athletes will arrive in Beijing with as much experience as canoeist Tim Brabants, with the Surrey man competing in his third Olympic Games.

The flatwater specialist has something to prove too. Despite being one of the main canoeists on the circuit for a number of years, a bronze in the 2000 Sydney Games in the K-1 1000m is his sole Olympic medal to date.

However, Brabants seems to be reaching his peak at just the right time to make a major bid for further medals in both the K-1 500m and 1000m events.

At last year's Olympic test event he stole the show by winning both races, which will leave him full of confidence when he returns to Beijing in August.

That performance was a real signal of intent from Brabants who took 18 months out from the sport after a disappointing performance at the Athens Olympics.

Athens looked like it was going to be special for Brabants after he had qualified for the 1000m final in world record time.

However, he finished a heart-breaking fifth in the final and went home without a medal.

The longer discipline seems to suit Brabants the best. Since returning to the circuit he has won the 2006 European Championship, the 2007 World Championship and picked up silver in the 2006 World Championships.

But he is also a definite contender in the 500m, as he showed at the trials last year and at the World Championships, where he won silver.

Three bronze medals in 2007 World Cup races have proved his consistency too, and we will learn more about Brabants's chances before the Games when he competes in the European Championship in Milan in May.

Brabants will also compete in World Cup meets in Szeged, Duisburg and Poznan before leaving for Beijing.

His Olympic redemption could well come in Beijing.

Eurosport