paracanoe Talent Academy Athletes
Meet the athletes
Lindsay Thorpe
Classification: KL3
Club: Newark 4A's
About Lindsay:
I tried paddling at a talent ID day a few months after losing my leg. I really enjoyed being outside and on the water and found the environment to be very positive and supportive.
Interesting Fact:
Before swapping to the kayak, I won a bronze at the 2017 World Championships in the Va'a.
Llinos Owen
Classification: KL3
Club: Royal Leamington Spa Canoe Club
About Llinos:
Started kayaking after a car accident meaning that walking mountains etc was no longer a possible hobby. Started on rivers in an inflatable! Then moved onto sea kayaking and surf kayaking before attending a Talent ID day and getting introduced to Paracanoe.
Interesting Fact:
Full time classical musician. Non-canoeing life is spent being a bassoonist with the Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera; working in Cardiff and touring around the UK.
Jon White
Classification: KL2
Club: Exeter Canoe Club
About Jon:
I paddled white water as a teenager and then joined the Royal Marines and got busy doing other things, lots of climbing, skiing and work. I was injured in June 2010 and decided to do the Devizes to Westminster race for charity in 2012. In 2018 I started training for a second DW which I completed again in 2019 and then started marathon and ocean racing.
Interesting Fact:
I was the first para athlete to compete in and complete a World Cup Ocean Race at the Nelo Summer Challenge in Portugal 2019.
Ed clifton
Classification: VL2
Club: Chelmsford Canoe Club
About Ed:
Prior to my accident I was always involved in sport and enjoyed training and quickly got back involved taking up athletics/seated throwing. I got to a good level competing internationally and being part of British athletics Paralympic Futures Academy. I took a break from the sport after the 2021 season and in that time I watched a documentary on Billy Monger where he was trying different Paralympic sports including Canoeing. I thought it would be interesting to give it a try and emailed British Canoeing and was invited to Norwich Canoe Club to have a go. Since the I have been welcomed and supported in to the sport and met some really nice people allowing me to make really good progress.
Interesting Fact:
In 2015 on holiday with friends in Croatia I had a freak accident where I fell from a balcony which resulted in me breaking my back and needing to use a wheelchair.
