Luuka Jones has the speed and strength to do something special at the London Olympics.
That's the belief of the Kiwi canoe slalom kayaker's technical coach, Nottingham-based Andrew Raspin, who has guided the Waiariki Academy of Sport paddler since she was a junior in 2006.
"I would say if she puts down the sort of effort she does in training she'll be top 10, but with the strength she's got - and she's fast - she's got some sparkle to put on that [result]," Raspin said from the Olympic Athletes Village.
The Lee Valley kayak venue is man-made big white water, the flow powered by four pumps which drive the current at about 12 cubic metres per second around and over obstacles.
According to Raspin, a former British World Cup and world championships competitor, Lee Valley should suit Jones who will be at her second Olympics.
"The more challenging the water, the more advantageous it is to be strong and out of the girls - Luuka is one of the strongest."
Challenging it is, with Luuka surviving a training scrape after being pinned up against a bollard earlier this week which saw her with a few "scrapes and bruises" but now declared "all good" by the Kiwi camp.
Raspin observes that Luuka is a far different athlete from the bright-eyed teenager who became New Zealand's first female canoe slalom Olympian in 2008 at Beijing.
"She's changed a lot, technically tuned and body wise both physically and mentally," he said.
"What's also noticeable in the last four years is she's really adopted the professionalism that's required around the way she operates, it's really quite inspiring."
Raspin's not surprised by the development he always knew burned deep inside the Tauranga-born athlete, who is studying applied management after graduating with a Diploma in Communications earlier this year.
"She's so determined.
"In 2006, she asked me what it takes to be good at canoe slalom and I told her the best were in Europe ... basically she said that next year she'd move to Nottingham; she was just 17.
"Luuka worked through the New Zealand summer, booked her tickets ... you can't but help someone who puts up that enthusiasm."
Jones and her Kiwi and Waiariki academy teammate Mike Dawson have spent many hours on the Lee Valley water trying to perfect their technique while familiarising themselves with the course.
Raspin said it has been a good approach as they have worked towards Olympic opportunity.
"My speciality is the technical side of things ... successful execution on the slalom course is by being more efficient and using the river to negotiate the course," he said.
After a disappointing World Cup campaign results-wise, only one top 10, Raspin said the time at Lee Valley had helped Luuka hone her technique while maintaining her natural speed and strength.
They have also been working on reaction skills so she can put the kayak back on the right line as quickly as possible and continue on their planned path.
The competition is decided on such skills with a mistake generally enough to see other world class paddlers take advantage.
This last week the hard work has tailed off as they focus on the women's K1 opening competition qualifying runs on July 30 (UK time) which lead to the top 15 semi-finals on August 2 and the 10-person final.
"The important thing for us is to keep a good mental attitude now and not overdo the training," said Raspin.
"She [Jones] needs a bit of contact with the water and we just emphasise the speed and dynamic work," he added.