Katie (in white boat) coming in to portage during the Short Course assessment last month

GB selection for kayaker Katie

First year Geography student Katie Brookes will compete in the ICF Canoe Marathon World Cup in Prague later this month.

Katie, 19, achieved GB selection after racing 24km (long course) and 3.5km (short course) assessments in April. For those unfamiliar with the sport, marathon canoeing is a mass start discipline over distance. It is highly tactical with the added drama of several portages, where competitors jump out and run with their 5 metre long boats before re-entering the water. Katie, who also competes in sprint kayaking, trains at Exeter Canoe Club while at university and her home club in Worcester. Katie has also represented GB at junior level but this is her first call up for the senior team.

Katie said: "It's really good to be back competing after all the disruption through Covid. I've been made to feel really welcome at Exeter Canoe Club and had lots of support from my university friends."

The ICF Canoe Marathon World Cup is being held on the Vitava River in Prague's historic centre on 28 and 29 May.

Date: 10 May 2022