Slovakian twin brothers Pavol and Peter Hochschorner won three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the C-2 canoe double competition between 2000 and 2008. They are determined to make up for the disappointment of London 2012 – where they had to make do with bronze – by adding to their golden haul at Rio 2016.

Canoeing pedigree

Peter and Pavol Hochschorner were born into a family of canoeing enthusiasts in Bratislava (SVK); their father, who is also their coach, and mother had both represented Czechoslovakia in the slalom, while their sister, who works as their manager, has competed in sprint events for Slovakia. In fact, it was in that discipline that the twins initially took to the water, before opting for the intensity of whitewater slaloming.

“We have never raced with anyone else, so we have built up our own communication,” Peter explained at London 2012. “Most of the time we are just synchronised.”