Contract sought still by canoeist

Press, 22 August 1984, Page 68

Contract sought still by canoeist

PA Auckland The Olympic canoeing champion, Paul McDonald, yesterday scotched suggestions that he has signed a promotional contract. McDonald, aged 23, told a news conference in Auckland that he feared rumours in the city that he had already signed deals . were putting off potential bidders. “No one has signed Paul McDonald, no one has signed lan Ferguson (the triple gold medallist) and no-one has signed the

Canoeing Association. We are open to offers.” McDonald said he had heard of the rumours but did not know where they came, from or what he was supposed to have signed for. He said he was broke, in debt from years of training without a full-time job, and keen to reap some reward ■ from his sudden fame. “I would be stupid if I didn’t.” But so far, no approaches had been made. Other gold medal team members and the association were also believed to be in the market but with-

out promotional offers so far. “We are all right into doing things as a team and would want to do things which would see the team and the sport do well, as well as ourselves," McDonald said. He had received many requests to speak at functions, he said. Some he would do free as a favour to friends and people who had helped him, but he had no idea what the fee should be for others and he would probably get an agent to handle them for him.