Paddler to stop goals for SA at canoe polo championship
Laxton told the paper it’s always been his dream to one day wear national colours at global events.
East Rand Kayaking (ERK) paddler Kyle Laxton has been selected to represent South Africa at the ICF Canoe Polo World Championships in France in August.
The goalkeeper will form part of the six-man Springbok canoe polo team to represent the country at the showpiece for the first time since 2016. South Africa has competed in 11 of the 13 previous world championship events with a best finish of seventh in the senior men’s category in Brazil in 2000.
Laxton told the paper it’s always been his dream to one day wear national colours at global events.
“Representing my country and wearing the SA lifejacket overseas has always been a goal of mine. To make the Springbok canoe polo team and be given this incredible opportunity is a dream come true. I am grateful and blessed beyond belief to be able to represent my country overseas,” he said.
South Africa enjoyed some success at the tournament in the 1990s and early 2000s with three top 10 finishes. From 2002 onwards, that early success was never replicated as the country’s best finish was 15th in 2008.
In their last world championship outing in 2016, they finished 23rd. Returning with great vigour this year, Laxton said the team is aiming for a top 12 finish.
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“We are hoping to win at least two of our pool games which would get us into the top 12, anything on top of that is a bonus.
“We are going to give it our all and really push to come as high as we can. I am confident in my team and our coach and have a good feeling that we are going to do well and be a big surprise to the overseas teams.”
Laxton began his canoeing career at Benoni Sea Scouts as a seven-year-old. At the age of 13, he began training at ERK under Canoe Polo SA chairperson Chris de Bree.
“Scouts was a huge part of me getting started in paddling. National championships have been important for me as they’ve also been a driving force for me to train and be at the best level that I can be. I started in the u-16 category and then moved to u-21s and eventually the men’s division, where the Gauteng team was able to win gold last year and this year.”
Laxton will be joined by Kyle Buchler, Danieel van Wyk, Kyle Hardy, Jamie Trubie and Joshua Smith in the SA team.
The team will first travel to Belgium for the GEKKO International Tournament on August 13 and 14 and then make their way to France for the championships from August 16 – 21.
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