Canoe Slalom teams training in Herts ahead of World Championship
The Canoe Slalom World Championship is underway at Lee Valley White Water Centre in Hertfordshire.
For the first time in eight years, the world championship returns to the UK.
Over the past week, teams from around the world have been analysing the track and training at Lee Valley White Water Centre, in Hertfordshire.
The complex was built for the 2012 London Olympics, and has been used by athletes as a training ground ever since.
This championship will be the first senior competition for James Kettle, 21, who started in the discipline when he was 8.
Local to the track, James is hoping he will be using it to his advantage.
He said: "First senior world championship for me, it's a big deal in itself and to have it on home turf is going to be really cool. I feel like we have quite a big advantage paddling on this water."
"Every place is unique; the more used to the course you are, in theory, the better you do."
"...it's important to be a woman in sport..."
Phoebe Spicer is also one of the youngest on the team.
Although this competition will act as a qualification phase for the Paris Olympics next summer, she is however looking ahead at the following Games in Los Angeles, in 2028.
She said: "A lot of slalom athletes look for the Olympics, and to be able to compete for the Olympic quota without the pressure will be a very good experience for the next time around."
Alongside young athletes, Olympians who partook in major past competitions will be fighting for their place on the podium.
Kimberley Woods was in the Tokyo Olympics, and more recently won silver at the 2022 World Championships, and won the World Cup title in Prague.
For her, the competition is as much about making a name for herself and succeeding with each achievement, as it is to place women on the international stage of a high-level discipline.
She said: "It's really important to be a woman in sport and inspire young girls. We've come so far in canoeing and to have canoe women in Olympics for the first time in the 2020 Games."
Kimberley was inspired by women in her family who practised the sport, and got involved herself from a young age.
She pursued the career ever since, from her time at the University of Hertfordshire up until now, where she is compete at the highest level.
The first leg of the Championship will take place at Lee Valley White Water Centre on Tuesday 19th of September.