It has been two weeks since I announced my retirement and during that period I have had a chance to reflect on my time in the sport which has spanned more than two thirds of my life! I look back on my career and I am very happy and proud of what I have achieved; I didn’t accomplish absolutely everything that I set out to achieve but there are certainly a lot of boxes ticked and I can honestly say that I gave it my all and I think that I did my best. But just being in this sport, being a professional canoeist, I have gained more than just medals. The sport has given me so much in so many ways and for that I will always be grateful.
One of the best things about a career in sport is that you get to travel the world and meet some wonderful people along the way and I have certainly done that. I have created friendships in all corners of the globe. There are many people with whom I have shared the happiness of victory, the sadness of defeat, the painful yet satisfying training sessions, the laughter and banter on training camp and best of all shared an Olympic Games experience with, I will never forget those people.
It has been the most spectacular journey but not without its highs and lows. I have certainly had my challenges both on and off the water but that is all part of sport. I never expected it to be easy or to travel a smooth path and it certainly wasn’t, but then nothing worth achieving was ever easy.
When I try to identify just one highlight during the last 20 years of training, competing and travelling in the sport it is impossible. However, to name a few… I would certainly include competing at the Olympic Games in 2000 and in 2008. On both occasions I was disappointed with my results but each time the experience was incredible and just being part of an Olympic Games, something that only 350 people in the country get to do every 4 years, that’s pretty special. I always get asked which World Championship victory was the best or means the most to me and that is a very tricky question to answer. Out of 6 gold medals I find it virtually impossible to split the first one in 1999, which was special because it was the first and winning the first is always tough especially since I had finished 2nd two times before that. Then in 2001 Helen Gilby and I won the
Other highlights include the post championship parties which generally involved a lot of alcohol, a lot of dancing and craziness as everyone lets off a lot of steam at the end of a season. When I recollect the training camps, although often long and tedious I also recall a lot of laughter, good banter and imagination in trying to entertain ourselves in between training sessions. After 3 weeks in Temple Sur Lot (training centre in
When I think about my favourite moments, generally it’s the people who made those moments and I want to thank everyone who has helped and supported me throughout my career. There are too many to list and you probably know who you are. However, I would like to highlight a handful of people because without these people I probably would never have achieved everything that I have. I’ll start close to home.. my parents, my husband Neil and my sister Zara. Andrew Pindar and Pindar, Christina Domecq and SpinVox, Miklos Simon, Roland Lawler, Peter Terry and Fred Jobin.
After so many years in the sport it is hard to let go and sad to say goodbye but on the other hand it is exciting to embark on a new career (in sports broadcasting) and to take the next step along my journey.
A final thank you to everyone who reads my website/blog and for all of your messages over the years.
Anna xx
