Sport and Lifestyle

Tom Quinn (canoe)

Name: Tom Quinn

Sport: Canoeing

Discipline: C1 and C2

Course: Business Economics

My name is Tom Quinn, and i compete in Canoe C1 and C2 categories. I'm working towards selection for Team GB for the 2012 Olympics, and I will be filming the up's and down's of selection for the greatest show on earth! These videos will be up here throughout the year, and on YouTube, so please watch me as i hopefully get selected!

Update: Unfortunately, Tom didn't quite make the Team GB 2012 Olympics team but is hopeful to make the team for Rio 2016.

History

I started canoeing when I was 11 years old after trying it with the local cubs. I joined Lower Wharfe Canoe Club and quickly outgrew the pool so started slalom. I progressed through the divisions first in kayak, making the junior development team, but sought a further challenge so took up C1. It was tough at first but I persisted, making it straight onto the junior development team, and then the Olympic Development programme. Since then I have been British National junior champion 3 times, English National Senior Champion, British University champion in 3 classes, Junior and U23 European finalist and U23 Silver medallist. I have also this year taken up C2, having a successful first season, finishing 2nd in the national rankings, finaling at the U23 European championships and winning a Bronze team medal.

Future

Next year I am really looking to better my 4th place in Senior selection in both classes and push into the Olympic team so I can race the home Olympics, as well as the U23 team. It will be challenging but currently on top of Uni I am doing 14 sessions a week Monday to Saturday, a lot of gym and physical work at the moment but moving to more speed and technical in the spring, I will also be travelling down to the Olympic course in Lee Valley after Christmas to really familiarise myself with the course.

NTU have been excellent in supporting me, providing me with funding and other support so I can push myself harder and recover better, but they have also helped me arrange my timetable so I can balance university and training.

For more information you can follow Tom Quinn on Twitter.