From pool to podium: the rise of
Ottilie Robinson-Shaw
Ottilie Robinson-Shaw’ s smile says it all – another gold, another masterclass at the Canoe Freestyle World Championships. Photos: Peter Holcombe
With this win, she not only stays on top, but she defines it.“ My goal was to get three gold medals,” says Robinson-Shaw.
“ I always want to win, and to come away with not just that but achieving my ninth world championship gold medal is quite special.
“ It’ s the most gold medals ever won by a female in freestyle, and that’ s something I’ ve been working towards my whole career.”
In a peculiar turn of events, the competition was unexpectedly cut short by two days.
When water levels dipped below the German Canoe Federation’ s minimum requirement, the competition was forced to stop. Under ICF rules, results were taken from the last round completed in full.“ It allowed us to just paddle every round like it was the last,” says Robinson-Shaw.
Long before the world titles, she was flipping kayaks in a swimming pool, turning still water into the training ground for freestyle brilliance at age 10.“ I joined Tendring Canoe Club, a small club based on the Essex coast, and I started paddling with them every Saturday,” says Robinson-Shaw.
“ Then, when we got to summer, I started going out on rivers and just wanted more as I got older.”
Robinson-Shaw’ s rise in freestyle canoeing has been defined by dazzling triumphs and fierce resilience. At the 2023 World Championships, she opened in dominant form, taking gold in canoe and silver in squirt boating.
All eyes turned to her signature event, the kayak, where she topped every round with ease. But in the semi-final, disaster struck: a sudden shoulder dislocation.
Though hindered, Robinson-Shaw delivered a courageous performance to claim silver, an extraordinary result that spoke volumes about her grit and heart.
“ I wanted to push through to finals and give it my best shot, but I was in a lot of pain. I went to a hospital in the US and found I had torn my labrum.
“ I’ d have to make the hard decision as to whether or not to have surgery,” says Robinson-Shaw.
“ I decided to go through with it in order to get back to where I wanted to be in the sport.“ It sucked at the time and the rehab was hard. But it was one of the best things to ever happen to me because I was almost starting to get burnt out,” says Robinson-Shaw.
“ I gained perspective and knew that I needed to fight for the sport I love. I wanted it back.
“ Now I appreciate every day on the water, injuryfree, and the fact that I get to live the life I do.” paddleuk. org. uk
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