Chippington’s crazy month in the canoe

It’s been the busiest month of her career for Maidenhead’s Jeanette Chippington OBE.

Britain’s most decorated paracanoeist has just competed in three back-to-back world championships: the 2022 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Canada (August 3-7); the VF Va’a World Sprint Championships at Dorney Lake (August 8-16) and the European Championships in Munich (August 11-21), where she paddled to silver medal success.

Just beaten to gold by fellow GB team mate Emma Wiggs, Chippington secured a time of 61 seconds in the women’s Va’a single VL2 200m sprint.

Heading out to the championships, a medal was firmly in Chippington’s vision.

“If I am honest I was aiming for silver, maybe thinking I was going to get a bronze, so I am really pleased that I got that silver and with those times,” she said.

“It has been a bit of a weird time – a whole month with no proper training, no gym, just championships after championships. Usually with para canoeing there are so few competitions, so you peak and come down, peak and come down, but this year it’s a bit different. It’s been really good.

“Once the Euros were over, though, it did ‘hit me’ and I instantly got a cold but I’m feeling a bit better now.”

The heatwave, which started to climb in temperature in July, was good preparation for August’s global events, as were the team summer prep camps in Bulgaria.

“The championships in Canada were warm so we were getting used to the heat and then it was hot in the UK and in Munich but it’s good. The water is faster plus being out on there when we’ve had hot days is probably the best place to be as there’s a lovely breeze.”

Next on the horizon is qualification for Paris 2024 but Chippington will be back in her kayak (KL1) as there is no Va’a (VL2) event at the Games.

“I love competing in both boats but the stability in the Va’a is better due to the outrigger. When the going is choppy in a kayak I tighten up and the stability isn’t as good. I’ve kind of concentrated on the Va’a but for Paris it is back to kayaking. I am aiming for

Paris at the moment. I am not trying to think too far ahead. The worlds this August was the first goal and now I am focused on getting the boat qualified for Paris.

“Then, once that happens, I’ll train hard as I don’t want to give that slot away.”