GBsquadcall forGibson
Eilidh Gibson Picture: Antony Edmonds Perthshire canoe slalom athlete Eilidh Gibson has enjoyed a fantastic start to the season after securing a place in the 2017 Great Britain Senior Team.
The Kinnesswood resident earned her selection courtesy of an impressive performance at British Canoeing’s trials.
Following three days of intense competition, Gibson achieved the required overall top-three finish.
That means she will now represent Team GB in the women’s C1 class at this year’s Senior World and European Championships, in France and Slovenia respectively.
The former Strathallan student will also compete at the international World Cup series and Under 23 World Championships in Slovakia.
Gibson said:“Coming into the weekend I was struggling with a bit of an injury so I’m very happy to get close to my plans on all my runs.
“I haven’t allowed myself the chance to think about the summer too much as I’ve been taking things one step at a time but there’s loads of really exciting races.
“Now I’ve just got to finish my exams and then I can look forward to the racing. It will be busy with senior and U23s, but I’m really excited for it.”
As well as determining the team for the season, the trials, held at Lee Valley Whitewater Centre, also represented the beginning of a new Olympic cycle which Gibson dreams will lead her to the 2020 Tokyo Games.
“My ultimate dream is to be the one person from Britain that gets to go to the Olympics in C1 women’s debut year and win gold,”said Gibson.
“You can see the numbers of C1 women are expanding exponentially because countries are giving these girls funding and support.
“It will be pretty hard because Britain is the strongest in the world in C1W but it’s really exciting to be in an ambitious group of girls that are coming through here and this is our chance.”
Gibson is one of 150 students supported by Winning Students, Scotland’s national sports scholarships programme for student athletes.
Through the programme the Edinburgh University student receives funding support and the academic flexibility required to perform at the highest level in sport and studies.
Getting the student-athlete life clearly works for Gibson who also finds time to be a part of sportscotland’s Young Person Sports Panel.
While the plan is to head south to be full time at British Canoeing’s slalom base in Lee Valley after graduating next summer, Gibson is not envisaging a life without study.
“My brain really needs that education stimulus and I love what I’m learning at university,”she added.
“I’m already looking at Masters I can do in London but obviously not full time because canoeing will be my priority down there.”