August 25, 2003
United States

The Jacobi/Taylor Canoe Team returned to the United States this month after a successful season of competiton throughout Europe. Our year saw us climb up to 9th in the World Rankings (the highest mens ranking on the U.S. Team,) finish 9th at the World Championships in Augsburg, Germany, and make our first official step toward the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team.

That step came about through a strong finish at last month's World Championships - our 9th place finish earns us a seven point lead on the nearest competitors in the Olympic Team selection system. 2004 represents the first time ever that international competiton results factor into the U.S. Olympic Canoe/Kayak selection. That's a big change from every other U.S. Olympic Team Trials when the Olympic Team was selected in just one weekend of racing limited exclusively to U.S. athletes.

Six weeks of travelling through seven different countries were among the best ever due in large part to the hospitality of our local friends in Spain, France, Germany, and Slovakia as well as the support from friends and family here in the States - thanks for making it all possible!

As the summer of 2003 winds down, Matt returns to his teaching position this week at the Galloway School in Atlanta where 60 new 6th graders will certainly get some unique and first-hand insights into an athlete's Olympic journey. Meanwhile, Joe has started his next round of speeches with Making It Count, a special division of Monster.com that delivers presentations to high school students about high school and college preparation.

The year ahead promises to be the most exciting to date and our friends, supporters, and partners will be along for every step of the journey. Just between now and April, 2004, we plan to bring you no less than three updates straight from the Olympic city in Greece as well as some reports from the 2000 Olympic venue in Penrith, Australia where the world's top doubles canoe team intend to migrate for the winter months for warm weather training and competition.

To that end, the Jacobi/Taylor Canoe Teams along with its partners will be creating active ways that give you the opportunity to get involved and help us make a difference too. Through companies and organizations such as the Ocoee Adventure Center, the Atlanta/Buckhead YMCA, the Chattahoochee Riverkeepers, and Tula Communications, enjoying the river and the spirit of this Olympic pursuit will be accessible, personal, and fun - for all of us!

Thanks for your support.

-Joe and Matt