OTTAWA, ON (January 20, 2025) – Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is thrilled to welcome Paul Wycherley to the CKC sprint high-performance team. Paul will take on the role of men’s National Team Kayak Coach, based at the Montreal Training Centre (Olympic Basin).

Paul joins the CKC team as the Men’s Kayak Coach, working closely with National Team Head Coach, Anders Gustafsson and Women’s Kayak Coach, Chad Brooks. Paul will share responsibility for developing sprint kayak athletes into world-class performers, while also prioritizing the mental wellness of each athlete in the program.

“We are excited to have Paul join our coaching staff,” said CKC’s Chief Technical Officer, Ian Mortimer. “His experience as an athlete, coach and other professional roles brings a great deal of value to our team. As we embark on the four-year push toward Los Angeles, our Men’s Kayak athletes will have a dynamic leader who matches their passion for hard work, and love for the sport.”

Paul brings a wealth of paddling experience hailing from the United Kingdom; he is a 30-time UK National Kayak Champion in K500m and 1000m distances. He holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest crossing of the English Channel and Lake Geneva in Switzerland.

Paul also won the Junior World Marathon Championships in the K1 in 2004 and competed at the senior world championship level from 2004-2012. In 2011, he defeated the reigning 2008 Olympic Champion, Tim Brabants, to represent Great Britain in the K1 1000m event.

“I am incredibly honoured and excited to step into this coaching role,” said Wycherley. “This opportunity represents a personal milestone and a chance to contribute to the continued success and growth of Canadian kayaking on the international stage.

Most recently Paul held the position of Head Coach at the False Creek Sprint Canoe Club, coaching several athletes of all ages to podium finishes at the CKC Sprint Nationals in 2024. Paul has previously worked in the UK business industry.

“I look forward to working with the talented athletes and staff to build on the solid foundation already in place,” Wycherley continued. “Together, I believe we can achieve great things while fostering a culture of excellence, dedication, and mutual respect.”

We will welcome Paul to the CKC team over the next few months, beginning with the National Team warm weather camps held in Chula Vista, California.

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For more information:
Colleen Coderre
Communications Lead
Canoe Kayak Canada
ccoderre@canoekayak.ca