100 Team GB contenders for London 2012: Ed McKeever

Canoe Sprint

Born: 27/08/83

Career highlights

McKeever is sprint kayaking's equivalent of Usain Bolt, winning the K1 200m world and European titles in 2010.

He relinquished his world title in 2011, having to settle for silver over the 200m distance, which becomes part of the Olympic programme for the first time at the London Games.

Career background

He took up the sport for fun in his hometown of Bradford-on-Avon and spent the early part of his career competing over 1000m. He admits in the past to "normally just missing out on the finals" but his career has been revitalised with the introduction of the 200m as an Olympic discipline.

Personal

He is in the process of qualifying as an accountant, following on from his degree in accountancy and finance from Kingston University.