Craig: Anything can happen

Anything can happen in the Olympics canoe slalom event, said Team Ireland's Hannah Craig after qualifying for the semi-finals today.

When asked what her first emotions were after qualifying, the Armoy native said: "Relief, relief!"

"I'm very happy to go to the start line again," said the 27-year-old.

"The crowds amazing and the water's amazing so yeah, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity so I'm glad I can go to the semi-final and do it again on Thursday.

"My first one was kind of a mixed one, the lines were good, it's just small little but that were missing. The small bits ended up being a big difference.

"There were a few penalties that were contested, there was a protest went in, they worked with the judges, the judges say no, yes, no.

"It's just part of our sport, it’s a judging sport

"But you need to forget about it you go into your second run and you just have to go for it."

Craig said that the Olympics provide a very different test to anything she has experienced before.

"It's the intensity of it that's very unique," she said.

"There's never been a course like this where it just keeps on coming, keeps on coming.

"There's no flat sections at all so you constantly need to be placing the boat in the right position."

Given the difficulty of the course and her own performace, Craig seemed in optimistic mood.

"In this sport, anything can happen as you saw today," she said.

"The world champion got a 50 on her first run. This sport … you never know. You never know until you cross the finish line.

"I'll just go with my plan and do the best I possibly can."