A canoeing and kayaking star is benefiting from the support of the team at Holme Pierrepont Country Park, home of the National Water Sports Centre (NWSC), as she prepares for the ICF Freestyle Canoeing World Championships, which take place at the centre in June and July this year.
Ottilie Robinson-Shaw, known all round the world of canoeing and kayaking as Ottie, was the dominant junior in her sport for many years, and while the transition from junior to senior can be a tricky one to traverse for many athletes, when you’re the world record holder for highest ever points scored in a freestyle ride, and a double junior World Champion like Ottie, the move to adult competition should be seamless… and that’s exactly what’s happened.
Since she turned senior in 2021, she’s entered four competitions and won all four, one at national level and three internationally, including the European Championships.
Matt Hancock, Sports Development Officer at NWSC said:
“We’re delighted to be supporting Ottie in her quest for a first senior world title. She’s a genuine superstar in this sport, but you’d never know it from talking with her. I doubt there are many more humble double world champions than Ottie Robinson-Shaw!
“If our support goes in some small way towards helping Ottie achieve her dream, it’ll be a proud moment for everyone at this centre.”
As part of a package of support, Ottie benefits from free access to the site’s gym facilities, free access to its white-water course and complementary campsite use.
As she’s self-funded, Ottie and her partner, Harry Price (also a freestyler, and holder of the record for highest competition run with ICF judges, as well as being 2021’s Senior British Champion) had been ‘wild camping’ in her van to save money, using various local supermarket car parks, when they needed to base themselves in Nottingham to train at NWSC.
When Matt heard that a double world champion was spending nervous nights camped out, worried about who might try to break into her vehicle, he knew NSWC should step in.
Ottie said:
“I’m so grateful to Matt and the entire NWSC team for their support. Having somewhere safe to stay has meant so much to me and Harry.
“We had some unpleasant nights spent in car parks around Nottingham, worried about who was outside, so having access to a lovely campsite makes a real difference, and helps us both focus on what matters – preparing ourselves physically and mentally for the world championships this summer.
“NWSC has an excellent gym, with the perfect blend of kit for my training purposes. I especially like the dedicated weights room with view of the lake.
“But what I really love about this gym though is the atmosphere around the place. It doesn’t seem to have a typical gym vibe, and is much friendlier than many I’ve been to. Feeling happy and relaxed with my training helps so much, as I try to achieve a long-held dream of becoming the senior world champion later this year.”
Ottie’s World Record for the highest ever ICF-scored freestyle points score currently stands at 1,460, which was achieved in 2021.
