James Kettle has had a strong start to his canoe slalom career, reaching the senior team for the first time in 2023, before securing his spot again ahead of the 2024 season.

His first season as a senior athlete saw James race his first World Championships in front of a home crowd at Lee Valley White Water Centre, where he won a team medal alongside Adam Burgess and Ryan Westley, with the trio winning silver.

James also represented TeamGB for the first time in 2023, competing at the European Games in Krakow, Poland, where the same trio won a team medal, this time taking bronze.

James won four medals across the 2023 season, as he also won two U23 team medals, including gold at the U23 European Championships and silver at the U23 World Championships, reaching the podiums alongside Peter Linksted and Kurts Adams Rozentals.

2019 was a strong season for the junior as he embarked on his first international competitions as well as impressing on a national level.

The highlight for the 18-year-old was his performances at the 2019 junior World Championships in Krakow, Poland, as he finished 8th in the men’s C1 final and also secured a brilliant bronze medal in the team event alongside Alfie Boote and Kurts Adams-Rozentals.

On a national level, James secured the second boat in the junior men’s C1 selection race at Lee Valley, before going on to become junior British Open Champion in October of the same year.

Aside from the sport, James plays guitar and has grade 8 in both classical and electric. He also composes music in his spare time and fixes up slalom boats.