Shannon Reynolds and Jaime Roberts to make Olympic debut in Tokyo

WAIS paddlers Shannon Reynolds and Jaime Roberts have been selected in the Australian Olympic Team for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

25-year old Reynolds and 29-year old Roberts are part of the 14 canoe sprint paddlers selected, the first athletes selected since confirmation of the Games postponement until 2021.

Reynolds got her start in the sport through the WAIS Talent Search as a 14 year at school and will now fulfil a dream of representing Australia on the biggest stage in the world.

“Competing at the Olympics has been a dream of mine since I was 14, to think I will be representing Australia in Tokyo next year is surreal and is yet to sink in,” said a delighted Reynolds.

The decision the decision to postpone the Games until 2021 is one Reynolds supports to create a level playing field. “Holding Tokyo in 2021 will allow all countries the opportunity to put their best foot forward, which would have not been achievable in the current climate.

“I want to thank everyone at WAIS who I had the opportunity to work with, my coach Ramon Andersson, my parents, family & friends”

Roberts like Reynolds will make her Olympic debut in Tokyo, having been a stalwart of the National Team since 2017, having represented Australia at the World Championships the last three years. Including 2019, where she was part of the squad that qualified Australia to compete in Tokyo.

Now based on the Gold Coast at the Paddle Australia National Training Centre the experience paddler broke the Australia Record in 2018 in the K4 500.

The selection of Reynolds and Roberts brings the number of WA athletes selected to 11 in the now 56 member Australian Olympic Team.

The Australian Olympic Committee has confirmed selected athletes shall remain members of the Australian Olympic Team to Tokyo, and athletes who have completed the entire qualification process, under the existing National Federation nomination criteria and international qualification systems, shall be nominated and selected in line with the existing policy. Where athletes have not completed the entire qualification process, the next steps will depend on actions taken by International Federations and the IOC regarding international qualification systems.

Photo: JGR Images