Canoe sprint rising stars to watch as future Olympian Jasmine Rayward launches world titles bid
A future Olympic prospect is on a mission to win two world titles in two different sports in the space of a few months. Rising stars to watch at Australian canoe sprint championships.
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Teenage sport prodigy Jasmine Rayward likes to set the bar high in everything she does in sport - something she was “shocking and uncoordinated at” as a kid.
That used to involve canoe sprint paddling, surf life saving, marathon swimming and ocean paddling - four sports she represented Australia in at world championships in 2022.
But the teenager, who admits she only got better at sport as she grew older, has now opted to specialise more, dropping the last two from her sporting repertoire.
And the fine tuning of her program has reaped instant rewards with the 17-year-old winning a round of the Nutri-Grain Ironwoman series this season ahead of her goal of making both the Australian junior kayaking and surf life saving teams to compete at world championships later this year.
“I only started kayaking three years ago when I had a bit of time on my hand during (Covid) lockdown,’’ said Rayward, who said she was quite “unco-ordinated’’ when younger.
“Dad took me out and taught me how to paddle and it was just a lot of fun.’’
The teen took to the sport quickly, making the junior Australian team for the first time in 2022 and this year is expected to race multiple event at the U18s world championships - and potentially the U23 event.
Rayward is also hoping to make selection for the world surf life saving championship on the Gold Coast which start in late August.
Rayward is one of numerous youngsters tipped for future success on the international and Olympic stage - including both the LA and Brisbane 2032 Olympics - at this week's Paddle Australia Canoe Sprint Championships at Penrith where the likes of Tokyo Olympic champions Tom Green and Jean van der Westhuyzen and dual Olympians Aly Bull and Alyce Wood are also racing.
BRISBANE 2032 AND LA OLYMPIC CANOE SPRINT RISING PROSPECTS
U18 ATHLETES TO WATCH
ZIAH PEISKER: Is part of the QAS on the Gold Coast and currently training under Olympic gold medallist David Smith who won his medal in the K4 at the London Games.
A real racer with plenty of potential.
OLIVIA CLUES: Has a strong surf life saving background and is a star on the rise.
The northern beaches paddler, based out of the Newport surf club, is quite new to paddling but already making waves.
She is also a rising star of the surf and followed her brother Bailey into kayaking.
JASMINE RAYWARD: Is at the QAS and lives on the Gold Coast.
A member of the Burleigh Heads surf life saving club and a junior world championship medallist in the K1 1000.
A rising star of iron racing, she has previously competed in four world championships in a six week period in kayaking, surf life saving, world ocean ski champs and open water swimming.
UNDER 23 ATHLETES
MAGUIRE REID: Hails form the Onkaparinga club and part of the SASI program in Adelaide.
He is one to watch in the K1 1000m and one of the newest additions to the National Centre of Excellence on the Gold Coast.
NATALIA DROBOT: A member of the NSWIS and hailing from the famous Avoca Beach kayak and surf life saving clubs.
She is now based on the Gold Coast and while still eligible for junior racing has been racing as a senior.
Made a mark when she finished third at the 2024 GP2 behind New Zealand’s Aimee Fisher and dual Olympian Alyce Wood from Australia.
KAILEY HARLEN: Also a member of the NSWIS and based on the Gold Coast with the national program.
Another paddler to emerge from surf life saving, Harlen was a member of the Queenscliff SLSC and raced her first senior World Cup and world championships events last year.
There is potential she will race both senior World Cups and U23 world Championships this international season.
CLAUDIA BAILEY: A talent who is on the return from injury.
She is also a member of the well known Northcliffe SLSC on the Gold Coast.
Bailey won silver at the 2022 U18 World Championships in the K1 500 and is seen as a future Olympian.
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Originally published as Canoe sprint rising stars to watch as future Olympian Jasmine Rayward launches world titles bid
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