Don’t listen to negativity... If you’re having fun, nothing else matters
SPRINT CANOEIST Deborah Kerr is fulfilling her dreams having been selected for GB’s Olympic Squad that is set to compete in Tokyo later this month. Reflecting on her introduction to the sport, Carluke-born Kerr says she is fortunate to have found her calling and issues a message to any aspiring young female hopefuls keen to make their future in the unique world of canoeing. ‘I’ve been lucky in the sport I’ve chosen, it’s quite small and, especially in Scotland, it’s a nice progression for the younger ones. ‘I got into it from when I went to Knowetop Primary School, someone came to the assembly one Friday and showed a montage of people canoeing, and what a kayak was. ‘None of us would have really ever seen one, so I think I was quite hooked on something a bit different. That is something I have always liked, doing things a bit niche and unique, so that’s what really drew me to it. ‘I had a really supportive group of friends at school who saw I was doing something different and exciting, and I could potentially be really successful at it. I always had their support when other people were maybe slagging me off for it. ‘It’s just amazing thinking about the humble beginnings of falling in at Strathclyde Park. It’s a culmination of a massive journey which is more than a decade long now and it just feels so special to be able to do all these people proud that have really helped and supported me. ‘I tried to make a list of all the people I feel have got me to this point and, oh my God, there’s been a lot! Some that I don’t even keep in touch with now, but they were such a massive part of me staying in the sport. Even when I wasn’t enjoying it, it was the camaraderie that kept me involved before I met the national coach. It’s quite emotional thinking back to how I got here. ‘If you want to do something, regardless of whether it’s sport or anything extracurricular, just do it and don’t listen to the negative comments. ‘For girls especially, it’s so hard with social media and everything right now, seeing unattainable body types that if you involve yourself in a sport, you’re probably not going to have. Just embrace the changes that come with sport and as long as you’re having fun, nothing else matters.’