BAYSWATER kayaker Yasemin Ray has cemented her second straight Olympic Hopes Regatta selection and is striving to continue her junior success in seniors.
The 16-year-old earned her spot after she won the singles 200m and doubles 500m at the national championships in March.
After achieving a personal best at last year’s Olympic Hopes Regatta, Yasemin said she was excited to compete against international juniors.
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READ NOW“I was stoked last time so even better to be going again,” she said.
“We have not really had many competitions because it is the off season at the moment but I am still training.
“(I train) six mornings on the water before school and two afternoons in the gym…it is very hard, I just try to get by.”
The Bayswater Paddlesports Club member said she often received coaching from her seniors Jesse Phillips and Stephen Bird, who both reached competed in theOlympics.
“It is amazing, it is such a good opportunity that we have,” she said.
“I want to get to the Olympics but a bit later (than 2020 Tokyo Olympics).”
Yasemin, a Perth College Year 11 student, said she had been kayaking for five years and loved the challenge.
“It is a very technical sport, so I am trying to perfect all the little tiny bits,” she said.
“It is good fun to come down and training with friends and I get to travel, so that is a bonus.
“Last year, we trained in Slovenia and raced in Hungary so that is definitely a highlight.”
She will be flying to Sydney in July for an Australian Canoe Team training camp and trials before competing at the Olympic Hopes Regatta in the Czech Republic from September 15 to 17.
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