Name: Sam Lyons
Age: 25
Height: 187cms
Weight: 82kgs
Started Paddling: 1994
Boat: Galasport Toro
Paddle: Double Dutch Kinetic
Best Results:
- Australian Under 23 Champion, 2005 , 06
- New South Wales Champion 2009
- 2nd, China Open, 2007
- 3rd, Australian Championships, 2006
- 6th, Australian Open 2008
- 10th, Athens World Cup, 2005
- 15th World Ranking, 2006
- 16th, Athens World Cup, 2006
- 18th, Spain World Cup, 2006
I have been canoeing since the age of 8 and as a result have seen a lot of the world from the unique view of the river. I started after my sister had taken up slalom at our local club in Monmouth, United Kingdom. I was a rugby player at the time in the pregtigous Under 8 competition but in order for the family to be together at the weekends it was decided that I should see if I enjoyed slalom. Canoeing for me took off from there. I was not very good to start with but with a lot of perceverance I came to love the sport.
I moved up the divisional system in the UK from Division 5 up to Premier by the time I was 15 with the help of my parents and the Welsh team which included the highs of winning a few races and representing Wales to the lows of losing my sister Beth's new and very expensive boat after a capsize in training! Beth had to stop canoeing in 1999 due to contracting Cronic Fatigue from a water bourne virus but her continued support and love has continued to spur me on.
I represente the Great Britain Junior team for 3 years that included a European, Pre-World and World Championships the highlight of which was a 10th place finish at the 2000 World Cup Final in the Czech Republic.
I moved to Australia in 2002 and since then I have become an Australian Citizen. I have been lucky enough to represent Australia at both Junior and Senior World Championships. The mental challenge is the main reason for my continued love for Slalom, having to challenge yourself to choose a better line a better training program to be more relaxed.
In 2006 I broke my collar bone pretty badly while diving to score a try in touch football (I know, very silly). Since that point I have undergone sugery and extensive rehab. I then dislocated my shoulder in 2008 and again in 2009 so my canoeing has been interupted quite a biit in the last few years but hopefully now the only way is up.
