Olympic kayaker Grant Clancy: back to business after special time in Paris

It’s been an up and down few months for Olympic kayaker Grant Clancy.

The down was having his group’s car broken into as they headed off on holiday after the Paris Olympics, and having everything stolen, passports included.

But even that hassle didn’t take the shine off the Bachelor of Commerce student’s Olympic kayaking experience, racing in the K4 500.

“My highlights were our quarter-final and semi-final races. The feeling of doing well, and the team energy after those races was so much fun and helped us all lift for the next race.”

Clancy’s crew made the A final but missed the medals this time round.

He’s fine about that now.

“I learnt that the Olympics is something to enjoy. It’s the pinnacle of sport and the aim of most athletes’ careers, so it feels great to have made it and done well.”

There was some controversy about Clancy and Max Brown also participating in the C2 canoe race, where they finished a distant last. Many people at the time didn’t realise Kayaking NZ’s decision to race in that event were tied to eligibility to enter the K4 500. But how was it for such a competitive person to have to race in a boat he barely knew? Strange?

“Not at all. I was happy to race it for the K4. Everyone in the paddling community supported us and it was a fun experience learning it with the boys. As you know, we had to focus hard on steering as there’s no rudder and the back paddler does the steering. We found the fun side of racing it and just kept focus on the K4 which paid off.”

Clancy says it was brilliant to be part of such an excellent group of kayakers, especially getting up close to the gold medals of the women’s K1 500, K2 500 and K4 500 led by Dame Lisa Carrington.

“It was very special to be around such high performers and to know how a small country can do so well. We were living with the women kayakers, and to see them do so well and create a historic moment was amazing. I’m stoked to have been there for that.

“And I’ll also always have the memory of our crew’s feeling post quarter- and semi-final, us all celebrating and seeing NZL come up that we made it to the final was an unreal feeling. Especially knowing family and friends were in the crowd, and back home, cheering us on too.”

Next steps have been to relax and see friends and family “and catch up on some study”.

“I’m having a bit of time off paddling but I’ll stay in the gym. I’m back into uni with a bit of catching up to do on the first half-of-the-semester work. It’ll be nice to get back onto campus and class to get into some study.”

Clancy, part of the High-Performance Support Programme, gives a shout-out to the University.

“It’s just great that Auckland Uni has supported us athletes, making study and professional sport possible. It’s great to know I’m getting a degree alongside all this and from such a great university too.”