Keen to emerge from the shadow of rowing, canoe sprint launched a new event on the Olympic program on Friday — the 200 meters. It replaces the 500 meters for the male competitors.

Organizers were hoping a shorter, more explosive discipline would add some spark to the regatta. That certainly seemed to be the case at a near-packed Dorney Lake in Windsor, west of London.

What added to the atmosphere was a Briton performing well. Ed McKeever, dubbed "Usain Bolt on Water" in some British media, qualified quickest from the heats in the K-1 in a time of 35.087 seconds, his arms whirling like a windmill.

He is one of the favorites for gold when the finals of the K-1, C-1 and K-2 for men and K-1 for women take place on Saturday.

— Steve Douglas — Twitter http://twitter.com/sdouglas80

___

EDITOR'S NOTE — "Eyes on London" shows you the Olympics through the eyes of Associated Press journalists across the 2012 Olympic city and around the world. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item.