Pavol and Peter Hochschorner, the Slovak twins, are known to everybody who is familiar with the slalom racing in the world.
Ever since switching from flatwater racing to slalom canoeing in 1996 and winning the C2 slalom race in the Sydney Olympics in 2000, they have dominated the discipline. Now, they set their eyes on the gold medal in the Beijing Olympics.
Born of a family deeply involved in canoeing, the two brothers have enjoyed strong backing from their parents, sister and many others who are concerned about them. Their next goal is to become the first crew to win three Olympic gold medals in a row in the C2 slalom event.
In Sydney, Hochschorner brothers reached the finish line with a result of 237.74 seconds, far ahead of silver and bronze medallists, their Polish and Czech contenders. Four years later, they did much better. They won the gold medal in Athens with a result of 207.16 seconds.
What surprise they will give in the Beijing Olympics is a question everybody concerned hopes to know.
Despite the tremendous achievements made at recent Olympics, the twins had a difficult decision to make at first. They picked up flatwater racing first. But both of them soon found it not to their liking or the skills that they has as canoeists.
In 1996, they decided to change disciplines for the faster and more thrilling slalom C2 class. It has been proved that they chose the right course, because they won the World Championships and World Cups aplenty after that.
People often say that they cooperate so well as if there is an invisible link between them, allowing them to read the actions and decisions of each other in a split second as they navigate the slalom course.
The two brothers also invest heavily in the future. They help spread the popularity of the sport in Slovakia, believing that the sport will eventually lie in the hands of the next generation and that it is their duty to guide the passions of others with the same desires as themselves.
Media reports say they may confront with obstacles on the way to secure their third Olympic gold medal in Beijing. But perfect cooperation between them is the trump card they hold and the chance of the winning the Beijing Olympics gold medal in C2 slalom racing is a good possibility.
Now they are in good shape. In August 2007, they won the gold medal with a total time of 204.45seconds. On May 11 this year, they won the C2 slalom title at the European slalom championships in Krakow of Poland.
(Xinhua News Agency July 18, 2008)