Sam Leaver takes World Cup Time Trail Silver
17 June 2025

Over the weekend, Sam Leaver earned kayak cross time trial silver to round off the Canoe Slalom World Cup weekend in Pau, France.๏ปฟ

A kayaker in a red and blue uniform holds a paddle, preparing to compete. He wears a helmet and stands near a metal structure.

Leaver put down a barnstorming run of 53.12 in the morning session to finish just 0.10s behind Jakub Krejci and claim a spot on the podium.


It was a continuation of strong form for the Under-23 world champion, who earned European kayak cross bronze in Vaires-sur-Marne last month.


“It was good,” he said. “The time trial is definitely different now it is a medal event, there is definitely more pressure.


“People are trying a little bit harder I guess, because you are not just fighting for top eight you are fighting for medals.


“Off the start it felt really good, I felt energetic and took it on. I was getting some nice lifts and when I came to the last up under the bridge, the water changed on me to how it usually is so that was a bit rough and ready. I felt pretty confident to the end.


“When I got to the line I was initially disappointed as I saw I was 0.1 behind, I thought based off last weekend I thought I would be outside but I held on all the way through the top guys and I am really happy to come away with a silver.”


Leaver was unable to add to his medal tally in the knockout stages, with the Edinburgh paddler knocked out in the quarter-finals after picking up an early fault.


He was the only British paddler to progress through his heat, as he took victory to progress alongside Benjamin Renia, as Ben Haylett and Jonny Dickson both endured faults to exit in the heats.


In the women's event, Nikita Setchell was the fastest British qualifier in fourth, just 0.03 seconds off the medals after an excellent run.


Kimberley Woods and Lois Leaver also qualifying for the heats in eighth and 18th respectively.


However, all three athletes were unable to progress to the quarter-finals.


The full results from the weekend can be found here. a different source.

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