Sam Leaver's fledgling career reached its highest point in 2023 as he claimed gold in the kayak cross at the World Under-23 Championships after a brilliant battle with British teammate Jonny Dickson in the final in Krakow.
He built up to that performance by claiming silver in the same event at the European Under-23 Championships in Bratislava a month earlier. He also took bronze in the K1 team event.
In his final year as a junior in 2022, Leaver won World Championship bronze individually in the K1 and joined forces with Ed McDonald and Oscar Wyllie to achieve the same result in the kayak team event.
Leaver's sister Lois also represents the British team in the sport.