Hi my name is Tom Yule
Why have I chosen flatwater kayaking as my sport?
I have always loved being in and around water. I have a surf lifesaving background where I started competing at 6 years old and first started kayaking when I was 11 when I won the “Golden Paddle” award at Intermediate. My first competitive kayaking event I attended was in 2001 where I placed in the top 3 and I have been hooked on kayaking ever since. Flatwater kayaking is an Olympic sport providing me with an opportunity to go to the Olympics in the near future. I had no idea that opportunities would pop up as fast as they have, making that dream of attending the Olympics an achievable and realistic goal in the next four years.
I have just left school and home this year to take on life as a full time athlete training in Gisborne. Over the years I was at school I was involved in various sports teams and many arts productions. I was Junior Sports Boy of the year at Mount Maunganui College in 2004 and Senior Sports Boy of the Year 2006.
In 2007 I had a super exciting time being named in the New Zealand Youth Olympic Team to travel to Sydney to compete. This was my first international regatta. I did very well being the only NZ male to make an individual A final. I was also a member of the K4 500m team, which won a bronze medal, the only medal kayaking won.
Later in 2007 I was lucky enough to be selected for the NZ Junior Sprint team to attend the Junior World Championships, very tough competitors and I was ecstatic with my K1 1000m result finishing 3rd in the B final which ranks me 12th in the world. The best performance by a junior in New Zealand history.
I have also been named in the New Zealand High Performance 2012 London Olympics Squad. This squad comprises of four male athletes that compete at International events (World Cups and World Championships generally in Europe) together in K1, K2 and K4 getting ready for the 2012 Olympics and beyond.
In 2008 my racing has been in the Open men’s grade and as such I was one of the youngest racers and found the competition fierce. A highlight was my bronze medal at nationals for the K2 500m finishing closely behind New Zealand’s K2 Olympic crew of Steven Ferguson and Mike Walker. I also raced at the Hungarian and Czech Nationals with my best result being a bronze medal in the K2 1000 at Czech Nationals in July this year.
Over the last month I have achieved some amazing personal progression steps, becoming New Zealand’s top Under 21 athlete, most valuable team boat paddler. I have also set myself a new personal best K1 1000m time 3:30.06min just over 5 seconds behind world record pace. But my greatest achievement came when my K2 partner and I managed to succeed NZs top K2 team, made up of Troy Burbidge and World Champion – Olympic silver medalist Ben Fouhy both athletes were shocked after the race. So I am on track for a spot at 2012 Olympics.
I have established a relationship with my local media and I provide them with the relevant information on my coming events. On return from any national or international event I contact the media again with my results for a follow up story.
I currently have some great equipment sponsors helping to achieve goals. Quantum Kayaks, Oakley Optics, Pant Saggin Dezign, Kajner paddles, Kevs Cutz, H20 Audio and Adidas. I am actively seeking financial sponsors, as competing at this level is high priced. It would be great to have (Your Company) beside me sharing extraordinary moments and re-writing New Zealand kayaking history.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Yours sincerely
Tom Yule