Kimberley Woods is a slalom canoeist from Britain who will realise her Olympic dream at the Tokyo games when she competes in the women’s kayak single (K1). She has competed professionally since 2011 and has already won a World Cup medal in the event. She claimed her spot at the upcoming Tokyo Summer Olympic Games when she came sixth at the senior World Championships in 2019.
Born in Rugby, Woods joined Rugby Canoe Club in 2004 after watching a video of her aunt Diane Woods win a silver medal at the 1994 junior world championships. She began competing professionally in 2011 and a year later she joined the British slalom canoe team. Since then Woods has seen her sporting career reach dizzying heights, winning five medals at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships – three golds, silver and a bronze. She has also had fantastic success at the European Championships, with an impressive haul of nine medals since becoming a senior champion in 2015.
Woods’ impressive professional sporting career so far includes bagging a medal at every U23 World Championship she took part in between 2015 and 2018. Woods was also British Canoeing Women’s Paddling Ambassador 2018, a top 10 BBC Young Sports Personality (2012/2013) and CWS Young Sports Woman of the Year (2012/2013).Woods main ambition is to win the Gold medal at the Olympic Games, and after securing her place in Tokyo she is well on the road to achieving her dream.