Penrith paddler Codie Davidson following in Olympian Jess Fox’s wake

Olympic medallist Jess Fox is one of Australia’s most recognisable athletes. Now there’s another paddler from Penrith hoping to make her own splash in the sport.

Young paddler Codie Davidson competing at Penrith recently.

Codie Davidson just wanted to try a new sport and have a bit of fun.

Now the 13-year-old is training every day, racing when she can and turning heads when she gets on the water.

A rising star of Australian canoe/kayaking, the Penrith teenager recently claimed a bronze medal in the open women’s K1 race at the NSW championships at Penrith Whitewater Stadium.

The teenager from Penrith Valley Canoeing also finished fourth in her C1 event.

Young paddler Codie Davidson competing at Penrith.

Another young paddler at the competition.

Not bad for someone who only decided to try her hand in the whitewater around two years ago.

“I did a Come and Try day and I asked mum if I could continue to do it after that because I like it,’’ said Codie, who has received coaching from Myriam Fox, the mother and coach of Jessica and a former Olympic paddler herself.

“I just liked it from the start, the people you meet, the coaches are really good and its so much fun.’’

With her nanna Jane Randall and mother Bec sharing the load of drop-off’s and pick-up’s, the Xavier College student now trains six time a week.

“I used to do netball but this year I decided to quit to do more paddling,’’ she said.

Young paddler Alexandra Broome, who won the K1, competing at Penrith. Pic: Mackie Kayaking

“Now we are back to normal we are on the water six days a week for around an hour a day, plus I have a gym session with my uncle.’’

Codie plans to do more competitions over Christmas and in the New Year.

“I only started doing the C1 on whitewater recently,’’ she said.

“But I’d like to do well in it as well as the K1.’’

The Paddle Australia Age Championships have been scheduled for January 15th–17th at Eildon, Victoria, with the Australian Open at Penrith from February 12-14.

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