ICF canoe sprint world champs: Kayak teen Natalia Drobot looks to another sport for balance

She’s a young paddler with enough talent at just 18 to be a contender for the Paris Olympics in 2024. But another Games sport is helping her achieve the childhood dream.

Rising kayaking star Natalie Drobot.

Sports lover Natalia Drobot has tried and excelled at just about every sport there is but has finally found her fit in kayaking.

But that hasn’t stopped the 18-year-old former gymnast picking up yet another to help her achieve her dreams.

The Central Coast rising star is competing at her first senior world championships in Duisburg, Germany, less than a year out from the Paris Olympic Games.

Drobot will race with NSW crewmate Kailey Harlen in both the K2 200m and K2 500m boats at the championships with the latter an Olympic event.

The 2023 ICF world canoe sprint championships are being held in Germany with crucial Olympic quota spots up for grabs for the Australian team.

Natalie Drobot racing at the Aussies.

Australia is chasing a top six in the women’s K1 500, K2 500 and men’s K1 1000 and K2 500. A top 10 would see Australia also qualify in the K4 500 men’s and women’s boats.

A recent bronze medal in her senior World Cup debut in Hungary has given Drobot great confidence heading into the worlds.

“It has given me more of an idea of how to execute a race day,’’ she said. “And more confidence.

“Even the K2 racing gave us a lot of confidence because it was only the sixth time we’ve ever paddled together.

“I really enjoy the K2. It’s just so good to work together with someone.

Natalie Drobot is a kayaker on the rise.

“I love the team aspect, love trying to make it work together and sharing the highs and lows.’’

The top Australian surf lifesaver, who won multiple medals at the Aussies in Perth earlier this year, has recently taken up long and short board surfing as a break from paddling but to also improve her balance and keep her shoulder strength high.

“It’s like dancing,’’ said Drobot who also competed in a variety of other sports including AFL, Basketball, athletics and cricket.

“It’s great for balance and to relax.’’

AUSTRALIAN TEAM AT CANOE SPRINT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

WOMEN: K1 200: Yale Steinepreis (WA). K1 500: Alyce Wood (QLD), K1 1000

Aly Bull (QLD), K2 200 Kailey Harlen (NSW) and Natalia Drobot (NSW), K2 500

Kailey Harlen (NSW) and Natalia Drobot (NSW), K4 500: Aly Bull (QLD), Ally Clarke (QLD), Yale Steinepreis (WA), Ella Beere (NSW). K1 5000: Claudia Bailey (QLD)

MEN: K1 200; Fletcher Armstrong (NSW), K1 500: Jean van der Westhuyzen (QLD), K1 1000 Tom Green (QLD), K2 500: Tom Green (QLD) and Jean van der Westhuyzen (QLD), K2 1000: Fletcher Armstrong (NSW) and Jakob Hammond (NSW). K4 500: Riley Fitzsimmons (NSW), Pierre van der Westhuyzen (QLD), Jackson Collins (QLD), Noah Havard (QLD) C1 500: Ben Manning (QLD), C1 1000: Ben Manning (QLD).

MIXED: K2 500: Aly Bull (QLD) and Jackson Collins (QLD)

PARA WOMEN: KL2 200 Susan Seipel (QLD), VL2 200: Susan Seipel (QLD), KL3 200

Kathleen O’Kelly-Kennedy (WA), VL3 200: Amy Ralph (WA).

PARA MEN: KL1 200l Ben Sainsbury (WA), VL1 200: Ben Sainsbury (WA), KL2 200: Curtis McGrath (QLD), KL3 200: Dylan Littlehales (NSW), VL3 200: Curtis McGrath (QLD)

VL3 200: Mark Daniels (WA).