No gold for K-4 crew

By: John Stewart August 22, 2008 07:51 AM - Chris Pellini of Mississauga and Canada's four-man kayak team achieved their goal of making it to the K-4 500-metre final at the Beijing Olympics. But the quest for gold ended when they finished last in the nine-boat race that was held early this morning.
The Canadians trailed the field through each stage of the race that was won by Belarus. Slovakia took the silver and Germany the bronze.
Pellini, from Port Credit, was joined in Canada's boat by Brady Reardon of Burlington, and Angus Mortimer and Rhys Hill, both of Ottawa. Canada's time was 3:01.630.
Pellini, who wants to become a doctor, was an outstanding student at McMaster University, where he graduated in biology with a 3.9 grade point average.
Reardon, meanwhile, is the son of former Mississauga resident Jim Reardon, who competed for Canada in the men's K-4 event at the 1972 Munich Games. He was a member of the Mississauga Canoe Club and later coached there.
The Reardons now coach and paddle for the Burloak Canoe Club.
jstewart@mississauga.net