Canoeing great Liam Heath calls time on his career

Canoe Sprint 08 Apr 22

Britain’s most successful Olympic canoeist Liam Heath has announced his retirement.

The 37-year-old won bronze at his third Games in Tokyo to take his tally to four, overtaking fellow sprint pioneer Tim Brabants and slalom star David Florence.

Heath was untouchable for years in the high-octane K1 200m.

From May 2016 to July 2021, the Surrey native was beaten only once in the splash and dash discipline; he won ten of the 11 international events he entered in that five-year period.

The journey to the top of his sport started when he tried paddling on a holiday activity camp in Surrey, igniting the passion that saw him join the Great Britain programme as a junior.

Heath gained a degree in industrial design and technology at Loughborough University and would also work as a cocktail waiter at TGI Fridays alongside his sporting exploits.

The announcement in 2009 that 200m sprint events would be added to the canoe programme for London 2012 saw him team up with Jon Schofield in a K2 boat.

The pair combined for the European title in 2010 and then world silver in their second season together in 2011.

They would win bronze together on Dorney Lake as Heath took the first step in a remarkable Olympic career.

Four years later, Heath and Schofield took one further step on the podium to secure silver at Rio 2016.

Rio would mark the zenith of Heath’s talent as he blasted to K1 200m individual gold, Team GB’s 25th of the games and fourth in paddling events.

On Instagram, Heath said: "When I started kayaking as a scrawny, bowl-haired, 10 year old, never did I imagine that I’d have experienced and achieved so much… never did I realise I could and would become a 4 times Olympic medalist, a double world champion, 5 times European champion and world and Olympic record holder.

"I kayaked purely for the joy of the sport and to hang out with my mates…. and 27 years after that first paddle, I can genuinely say I’ve had so much joy, so many amazing experiences, made some of my best mates for life and picked up the odd international medal along the way.

"Today I announce my official retirement from international competitive kayaking. Having achieved nearly everything possible within an athletic career it definitely feels like the right time for me to hang up my paddles.

"I’ve been competing internationally since I was a teenager and it now feels right to explore other opportunities and passions, as well watch and support my two daughters grow up. I’ve been so fortunate to have had the chance to achieve everything I ever wanted to."

Heath embarked on an incredible run of wins in the Tokyo cycle and was a marked man going into the Games.

Once again, he produced a superb race when it mattered on the Sea Forest Waterway to win bronze, that would prove the final act of his senior international career.

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