The Nepean Hospital doctor and PriceWaterhouseCoopers accountant impressed at the meet on Friday and Saturday, competing in the C-2 class of the national championships.

Due to excellent results on Friday, they were third going into Saturday's international competition but copped a 50-second penalty after missing a gate.

Milne and Bellofiore are now concentrating on their next big event the Oceania Olympic qualifiers at the Penrith Whitewater Stadium on March 15 and 16.

``We'd really like to win a medal in Beijing I don't think we'd be satisfied going home without a medal,'' Milne said.

Milne, 29, who started the sport in 1993, moved from Melbourne to Emu Plains eight years ago to be near the whitewater stadium and has competed in nationals since 1994.

In 2002, he took up double paddling with Bellofiore, 24 and the pair finished 12th at the Athens Olympics two years later.

Bellofiore began his career in 1996, and recently moved from Bondi to Penrith.

Their training schedule consists of physical conditioning with up to eight boat sessions and four gym workouts a week.

``We train at odd hours,'' Bellofiore said.

``It's a very technical sport like surfing or mountain biking.

``Work for both of us is really flexible and it's great that we have a lot of support.''

The team is seeking sponsorship to get to the Olympics. Contact 97354772.