Mike Ballard hopes to clock a personal best time at the ICF Paracanoe World Cup in Poland this week, despite a testing build up to the event.
The Abu Dhabi-based kayaker will be competing for the United States in the K2 Men’s 200m event in Poznan on Thursday.
A busy summer schedule will also see him competing at the World Championships and then the Pan-American Games in Nova Scotia in consecutive weeks in August.
His preparations for the campaign were delayed by a potentially life-threatening condition at the end of last year, when he suffered a pressure sore.
After recovering from that, he has been pleased by the level of fitness he has attained ahead of the event – only to arrive at the course for the first time this weekend to find his boat absent.
The manufacturers had sent a variety of kayaks on an overnight delivery from neighbouring Czech Republic, but Ballard’s was not part of the shipment.
The former Abu Dhabi Harlequins rugby player remains sanguine about his situation, though.
“We need a boat – we are not going to swim the 200m,” Ballard said.
“There are plenty of boats in this town, we will find something. I can rent a boat, even if it is one with not a cool paint job, and maybe scratched up.”
Despite being the lone para-athlete from United States, he does at least have some assistance.
Two weeks prior to departure, Ballard contacted his alma mater, Adrian College in Michigan, to see if any students could make the trip to Poland to assist him.
Instead, a professor in exercise science has travelled, and Ballard is glad for his expertise.
“It is Adrian College Bulldogs [the university’s American football team] and so we’ve renamed the lake ‘Bulldog Bay’,” Ballard said. “It has been a very good solution.”
Ballard is unsure which of the leading kayakers in his field have travelled to Poznan, but he says his focus is on improving his own performance rather than his finishing position.
“In terms of a finishing place, there are no expectations, but in terms of time, I have a number,” Ballard said.
“I was 58 seconds the first time in the boat in the Paralympic qualifiers. A year later, with better technique a month ago it was 57 seconds.
“Now 54 seconds is my target. That is where I need to be. It is not about who else is out there.”
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Price, base: Dh141,740 (three-door) / Dh165,900 (five-door)
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Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
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Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
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ASHES SCHEDULE
First Test
November 23-27 (The Gabba, Brisbane)
Second Test
December 2-6 (Adelaide Oval, Adelaide)
Third Test
December 14-18 (Waca Ground, Perth)
Fourth Test
December 26-30 (Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne)
Fifth Test
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996): This market situation is giving them a valuable lesson about investing early. Many millennials who had previously not saved or invested are looking to start doing so now.
Ovo's tips to find extra heat
- Open your curtains when it’s sunny
- Keep your oven open after cooking
- Have a cuddle with pets and loved ones to help stay cosy
- Eat ginger but avoid chilli as it makes you sweat
- Put on extra layers
- Do a few star jumps
- Avoid alcohol
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Now aged 16, Nora has decided she wants to dedicate her career to helping other victims of crime.
“It was very horrible for her. She saw her mum, dying, just next to her eyes. But now she just wants to go forward,” said Khulood, speaking about how her eldest daughter was dealing with the trauma of the incident five years ago. “She is saying, 'mama, I want to be a lawyer, I want to help people achieve justice'.”
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The device has a screen reader or software that monitors what happens on the screen
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SERIES INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series
Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal
Table
The top three sides advance to the 2022 World Cup Qualifier.
The bottom four sides are relegated to the 2022 World Cup playoff
1 United States 8 6 2 0 0 12 0.412
2 Scotland 8 4 3 0 1 9 0.139
3 Namibia 7 4 3 0 0 8 0.008
4 Oman 6 4 2 0 0 8 -0.139
5 UAE 7 3 3 0 1 7 -0.004
6 Nepal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 PNG 8 0 8 0 0 0 -0.458
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