REACHING boiling point

Absolutely meets Lee Valley athlete James Kettle, who is set to compete “at home” in the 2023 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in September

Lee Valley athlete James Kettle is eagerly preparing to represent British Canoeing at his home venue, Lee Valley White Water Centre, in the highly anticipated 2023 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships coming later in the year, from 19-24 September.

With an impressive track record and a bronze medal from the 2019 Junior World Championships, James is poised to showcase his exceptional skills and capitalise on the home advantage.

His selection to compete for British Canoeing is a testament to his remarkable talent and dedication to the sport. “Since I heard the race was going to be here, I just couldn’t wait and really hoped that I would make it onto the team. It’s really exciting,” James says. “I’ve been paddling here since it was built, so to be able to race here now it really does feel like home.”

James’s exceptional performances at the 2019 Junior World Championships in Krakow, Poland, cemented his status as a promising athlete in canoe slalom. He finished 8th in the men's C1 final and secured a bronze medal in the team event, alongside his teammates Alfie Boote and Kurts Adams-Rozentals.

Continuing his success on a national level, James demonstrated his prowess by securing the second boat in the junior men's C1 selection race at Lee Valley. This achievement was followed by his triumph as the junior British Open Champion in October of the same year, further solidifying his position as a rising star in the sport of canoe slalom.

James trains at the world class facility near Waltham Cross in Hertfordshire everyday, both on the course and in the gym to continue improving his performance levels and he is hoping to use his inside knowledge to his advantage.

“I think there is definitely a home advantage in this sport, so hopefully I can use that this September and do whatever I can,” he says. “There has been various changes to the course over the years, and it’s just the whole area around it has gradually expanded, getting better and becoming more high performance, especially for our side. Also the rafting and all the activities for the public, it’s really good to see.”

Being close to home is also a key advantage. “Family living nearby is a plus, and also friends can travel down to see me,” he smiles. “I’m here on the water pretty much every day, sometimes twice a day, and also using the gym here as well. It truly is a world class place to train, so I love it here.”

Beyond his dedication to the sport, James is a multi-talented individual. He showcases his musical abilities by playing the guitar and holds a grade 8 proficiency in both classical and electric styles. In his spare time, he also takes pleasure in composing music, demonstrating his creativity off the water.

Lee Valley White Water Centre is part of Lee Valley Regional Park, which stretches 26 miles along the River Lee from East India Dock Basin on the Thames to Ware in Hertfordshire. The park offers a range of great activities, days out and attractions from cycling, white water sports and angling to horse riding, ice skating, hockey and camping, alongside award-winning nature reserves, green spaces, heritage sites and riverside trails. Located at the edge of the hugely popular 1,000-acre River Lee Country Park, Lee Valley White Water Centre is a world leading destination offering a host of exciting sport and leisure activities including white water rafting, canoeing, kayaking, hydrospeeding (similar to body boarding) and inflatable obstacle courses. The London Olympics 2012 venue has two white water courses – the 300m Olympic Standard Competition Course with a 5.5m descent and the 160m Legacy Loop with a 1.6m descent, perfect for training and developing the next generation of champions.

Are you inspired by James Kettle?

If so, visit better.org.uk to see how you can take to the water too

GRANDCHILDREN