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Ben Fouhy - Source: ONE Sport
Olympic medallist Ben Fouhy is taking an indefinite break from
kayaking.
He has cited personal reasons for taking time out from a sport in
which he won a silver medal in the K1 1000m event at the 2004
Olympics in Athens, a year after winning the world championship
title in the same discipline.
Canoe Racing New Zealand chief executive Paula Kearns said on
Tuesday night that it was premature to say that Fouhy had quit
the sport.
She said Fouhy informed her a week ago of his intentions.
He has not appeared at the national trials on Lake Karapiro near
Hamilton this week, ruling him ineligible for the national crews
due to be named shortly for this year's World Cup regattas in
Europe and the world championships in Germany in August.
Fouhy, 30, last weekend won the K1 1000m title at the national
championships at Rotorua ahead of rival Stephen Ferguson.
"He is taking a break from the sport for personal reasons," Kearns
said.
"We've been aware for a week or so that Ben was thinking about
taking a break from the sport," said Kearns, who added that Fouhy
informed officials he would not be appearing at the trials.
She said Fouhy had given no indication how long he would be away
from the sport.
"At this point in time Ben is just assessing his options and
working through some stuff.
"I communicate with Ben quite regularly and the relationship we
(Canoe Racing NZ) have with him is good."
