German paddler Sebastian Piersig said in Beijing on Thursday that he wanted to enter the final race in the slalom canoe/kayak race at the Beijing Olympics.

"I want to make it into the slalom final. If I am lucky, I can get a medal," said the athlete who is also a soldier.

"I finished the World Cup in 2006 with a silver medal. But in the World Cup contests and World Championships in 2007, I did not get any medal. I took only one World Cup contest in Prague this year because I have to make preparations for the Beijing Olympics," said the 24-year-old C2 athlete.

He said that he usually practises in the two artificial water courses in Germany. This summer, he came to Beijing twice in June and July for pre-Olympics training.

"I think the water course in Beijing is OK. But it is much hotter now in Beijing than in my home country," he said.

On his ways of pastime, he said that he likes Internet surfing and electronic games such as car racing.

"It takes at least one hour for us to travel to this competition venue, so we usually spend the whole day here," Piersig said.

On his role as both athlete and soldier, he said that he is more an athlete than a soldier.

"There are about 700 men like me in the Germna army. We are more athletes. We take military competitions. Because there are no canoe/kayak slalom races in military contests, we come here to represent our country," the 1.83-meter young man said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2008)