Gary Mawer is looking forward to the next round of the men's K1 1,000-metres sprint canoe after qualifying with a sixth-place finish in the second of four heats.

Mawer's time of three minutes 45.787 seconds - with Norway's Knut Holmann winning in 3:36.565 - was enough to send him through to the semi-final at the Olympic Regatta Centre.

The 30-year-old Mawer was a late call-up for Sydney after a qualifying place became available and Ireland's top racing canoeist has also entered the K1 500 metres.

Mawer was second in the World marathon championships two years ago as well as a finalist from the World sprint championships in 1997.