Kira Grant

Read on to find out more on Kira and her Canoe Slalom career:

Q How old were you when you started and what is your first memory of your sport? I was about 9 or 10 and my first memory is of the crazy eyebrows of my first coach!

Q When and where did you first compete? How did you get on?
When I was about 9 I had a competition at Fairnilee, near Galashiels. To be honest I haven’t a clue how I got on as the only thing I was concerned about was making it down the course alive.

Q Did you ever play any other sport? If so, what made you change to your current sport?  Yeah, I used to love lots of sports. Played badminton, gymnastics, loved athletics and swimming. I’m not too sure what made me opt for Canoe Slalom it must have been the adrenalin rush and the challenge as it certainly was not the cold hard winter training!

Q What has been the highlight of your career? Highlights! The whole experience of paddling is highlighted!!

Q What has been your favourite competition venue to date and why?
Nottingham (HPP), it is just lovely to paddle and although it is not my home water I always manage to pull out my best results from there.

Q What is a typical training regime for a ‘normal’ week?
“NORMAL” I think its safe to say my life has ventured far from normal! But my week would often go: 3 gym sessions, 4/6 white water sessions, 1 flat water session, and where and if possible some jogging or swimming. But when we are on training camps (which is very often) it is completely different.

Q What has been your best sporting experiences so far? All the abroad trips have given me fantastic paddling experience!

Q And the one you would rather forget?
Oh when I took a tantrum in 2008 when the next competitor caught me up and my coach started shouting at me. I just went off on one during my run and almost got myself disqualified.

Q Do you have any pre-event superstitions or rituals?
Well not really, as I believe each race demands different needs and things but one thing I do seem to do is splash my face before my run, but I don’t just splash myself I pretty much drown myself in water until I am completely drenched!

Q Have you had to overcome any major challenges (injury, illness or other) to reach your level in sport?
I feel I have had to overcome a lot, not in the way of injury or illness but mentally. I used to be petrified of white water (wrong sport for that you would think) and I used to hate getting my face wet (yep definitely wrong sport). Then there was my crazy emotions, I’d either be unable to control my temper and would go mental at myself and others around me, or I would just be sitting crying when I couldn’t do something. But yeah, it’s been like a stroll in the park!

Q How does training fit in with your other commitments (studies/work)?
It’s more about fitting other commitments around training. I feel I manage this very well and have no concern about fitting four higher’s around Canoeing.

Q What do you see as the key area to concentrate on for you to improving as an
athlete? It sounds basic, but just plain getting faster!!

Q Technique or physical - which do you spend most time working on to improve?
Well different areas at different times of the year, winter = mostly physical, whilst summer = mostly technique.

Q What support do you get in training (national governing body programme, family, coach, sponsorship etc)? Lottery funding, often coaching but as for most young athletes it’s the family that play the biggest part in supporting me just now.

Q How long have you been supported by TFIS and how do we help?
This is my second year. I feel I have had a lot of help, I’ve had physio, psychology but the biggest help I have received is my gym sessions!

Q Do you think the support offered by your coach(s) and TFIS gives you a performance edge? If so, why? Definitely! Without these sessions I would be miles behind the English girls when it comes to power!

Q Which athlete, past or present, do you admire? And why?
Dave Florence. Although of course I admire his success and amazing results I am actually most inspired by his motivation, determination and lifestyle management.

Q Who has/have had the biggest influence on you as an athlete? And why?
I would say the guys I train with, especially Aaron, when I consider the amount of time we have spent together and the great deal of time he has spent encouraging me, comforting me and aggravating me, it would be hard for him not to be the biggest influence!

Q Which other young Scottish athletes in your sport should we be looking out for?
Simon Grant (proud to say he is my big brother!)

Q What's the best piece of advice you have been given?
“Enjoy it”. It’s the most important thing!!!!

Q Where do you see the biggest improvements in your event/game coming from?
Improving basic speed.

Q Where do you get your inspiration and motivation from?
I like to think I already have it in me but I reckon Aaron has a lot to do with it.

Q What is your ultimate ambition? Do the best I can. Whatever competition whether it be another prem race or a world championship I want to be able to say “I have achieved MY best”

Q Do you have to make any sacrifices to be the best that you can be in your sport? If so, what are they and why do you make them?
Well apart from the insanely important things such as having long nails, dry hair and time for shopping. There are also things such as my social life is often put on hold, and not eating certain foods, family holidays (as we spend all school holidays paddling) and simply time for my body to have a rest, the list could go on. To be honest I’m not totally sure why I, to an extent, don’t mind sacrificing them, I guess it’s probably the fact that when I’m on the water with some of the most amazing people I have ever met none of the above matters and I wouldn’t want to be any where else.