Founded as a legacy program of the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics, the Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club has turned into one of the premier training centers for the sport in the country. Many of the rising stars in the sport now call Gainesville home, choosing to train for the upcoming national and world competitions at the club, while keeping their main focus on qualifying for the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “That is the goal we are working for,” said Ian Ross, a native of Washington D.C. who is living in Gainesville.