The announcement earlier this month that a British army officer had been chosen to man the International Space Station drew a final line under David Florence's aspirations of becoming an astronaut.
But the European Space Agency's loss could be Team GB's gain as he goes in search of a unique double when the European Slalom Championships get under way in Nottingham.
The 26-year-old Scot applied unsuccessfully to become an astronaut last year before winning Olympic silver in Beijing.
Florence, who only took up paddling when he was 15, came into the final in fourth place and produced a faultless run which propelled him above Poland's Krzystof Bieryt and Czech paddler Stanislav Jezek.
He was in first place until Slovakian world number one Michal Martikan claimed gold with the last run of the final.
He has now set himself the challenge for London 2012 of becoming the first canoeist to win Olympic medals in the individual Canadian (C1) and Canadian pair (C2) classes.
Florence, who will be teaming up with Richard Hounslow in the C2, said: "It's not easy because the C1 and C2 are very different. With 2012 on the horizon, this is a major thing for us. It's great to have a championship where you can stay at home."
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