National Teams: Olympic / Senior
DOB: 21/11/1995
Hometown: Grove / Hobart, Tasmania
Institute/Academy: Tasmanian Institute of Sport
Club: Derwent Canoe Club
Coaches: Julien Billaut, Robin Jeffery
Started paddling: in 2007 at age 11
Nickname: Dan
- How did you get into paddling? I used to paddle around a sit on top at the beach and my parents thought I should try to learn to paddle a kayak properly & joined the Derwent Canoe Club beginners program.
- Does anyone in your family paddle? My dad used to Wave Ski then eventually got into flatwater and multisport racing and that’s how we got into the canoe club.
- Greatest influence on your career? My coaches and the people who help push me to compete in two classes.
- What has been your biggest accomplishment in the sport so far? Double National Champion in C1 and K1 and racing both K1 and C1 at Senior Team level
- What keeps you busy outside of paddling? Work, mountain biking, climbing, more paddling, creek boating.
- On your day off…. I go away camping or work on my van
- Who inspires you? Peter Kauzer and anyone who’s doing what they
- How would your best friend describe you? Always up for an adventure or just a coffee.
- Favourite Australian personality? Russell Coight.
- What scares you the most? Snakes!
- Superstitions before a race? Get your bib on the right way round.
- Favourite place to paddle in Australia? Tasmanian Creeking.
- Favourite place to paddle overseas? Norway
- Favourite song to paddle to? Anything by Luca Brasi.
- Fun fact about you? I live in my van about a quarter of the year.
- Advice to young paddlers… Keep it fun and try as many things as you can on the water! Different techniques, different Classes, K1, C1, and different disciplines, paddle rivers, freestyle, DRR…
- When did you first represent Australia? 2011 Junior Pre World Championships
- Previous national teams (Sen, U23, Juniors): 2011-2013 Junior (K1&C1), 2014-2016 U23 K1&C1, 2015 Senior K1, 2017 U23 & Senior C1, 2018 U23 & Senior K1&C1, 2019 K1&1
Instagram: @dan__watkins
Facebook: @daniel watkins – kayak
International Results
2020
3rd MC1 Australian Open Canoe Slalom
1st MC1 Oceania Canoe Slalom Championships, Auckland, NZL (Olympic quota spot)
2019
81st MK1 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships, La Seu, Spain
41st MC1 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships, La Seu, Spain
17th MK1 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 5, Prague, Czech Republic
55th MC1 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 5, Prague, Czech Republic
33rd MK1 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 3, Tacen, Slovenia
15th MC1 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 3, Tacen, Slovenia
28th MK1 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 2, Bratislava, Slovakia
11th MC1 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 2, Bratislava, Slovakia
10th MK1 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 1, Lee Valley, UK
23rd MC1 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 1, Lee Valley, UK
2018
22nd C1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships (Rio de Janiero, BRA)
13th C1 Teams – ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships (Rio de Janiero, BRA)
28th K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships (Rio de Janiero, BRA)
10th K1 Teams – ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships (Rio de Janiero, BRA)
28th K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships (Rio de Janiero, BRA)
6th C1 – ICF Canoe Slalom U23 World Championships (Ivrea, ITA)
9th C1 Teams – ICF Canoe Slalom U23 World Championships (Ivrea, ITA)
14th K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom U23 World Championships (Ivrea, ITA)
20th K1 Teams – ICF Canoe Slalom U23 World Championships (Ivrea, ITA)
16th C1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 1 (Liptovsky Mikulas, SVK)
37th K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 1 (Liptovsky Mikulas, SVK)
23rd C1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 2 (Krakow, POL)
9th K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 2 (Krakow, POL)
28th C1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 3 (Augsburg, GER)
38th C1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 5 (La Seu d’Urgell, ESP)
41st K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 5 (La Seu d’Urgell, ESP)
2017
7th C1 Teams – ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships (Pau, FRA)
53rd C1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships (Pau, FRA)
9th C1 – ICF Canoe Slalom U23 World Championships (Bratislava, SVK)
46th C1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 1 (Prague, CZE)
12th C1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 2 (Augsburg, GER)
27th C1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 3 (Markkleeberg, GER)
21st C1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 4 (Ivrea, ITA)
47th C1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Final (La Seu d’Urgell)
2016
18th C1 – ICF Canoe Slalom U23 World Championships (Krakow, POL)
10th C1 Teams – ICF Canoe Slalom U23 World Championships (Krakow, POL)
5th K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom U23 World Championships (Krakow, POL)
5th K1 Teams – ICF Canoe Slalom U23 World Championships (Krakow, POL)
40th C1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 4 (Prague, CZE)
12th K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 4 (Prague, CZE)
39th C1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 5 (Tacen, SLO)
32nd K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 5 (Tacen, SLO)
36th C1 – Oceania Championships (Penrith, NSW)
38th K1 – Oceania Championships (Penrith, NSW)
2015
54th K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships (London, GBR)
18th C1 – ICF Canoe Slalom U23 World Championships (Foz do Iguassu, BRA)
25th K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom U23 World Championships (Foz do Iguassu, BRA)
87th K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 1 (Prague, CZE)
31st K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 2 (Krakow, POL)
37th C1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 3 (Liptovsky Mikulas, SVK)
45th K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 3 (Liptovsky Mikulas, SVK)
1st K1 Teams – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 3 (Liptovsky Mikulas, SVK)
49th K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 4 (La Seu d’Urgell, ESP)
46th K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 5 (Pau, FRA)
2014
19th K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom U23 World Championships (Penrith, NSW)
45th K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom U23 World Championships (Penrith, NSW)
35th K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 2 (Tacen, SLO)
7th K1 Teams – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 2 (Tacen, SLO)
50th K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 4 (La Seu d’Urgell, ESP)
16th K1 – ICF Ranking Race (Tacen, SLO)
11th K1 – National Championships (Penrith, NSW)
27th C1 – Oceania Championships (Penrith, NSW)
34th K1 – Oceania Championships (Penrith, NSW)
2013
30th C1 – ICF Canoe Slalom Junior World Championships (Liptovsky Mikulas, SVK)
12th K1 – ICF Canoe Slalom Junior World Championships (Liptovsky Mikulas, SVK)
1st C1 – Australian Youth Olympic Festival (Penrith, NSW)
1st K1 – Australian Youth Olympic Festival (Penrith, NSW)
