07 March 2024 , 07:30
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Paralympic champion Charlotte Henshaw is used to having a target on her back and Paris 2024 will be no different.
The 39-year-old from Mansfield clinched her first-ever Paralympic crown in para canoe at Tokyo 2020, powering to gold in a new Games record time. Despite heading into a possible fifth Games as defending champion for the first time, the swimmer-turned-paddler is used to the feeling of being the one to chase, citing her eight world titles as enough experience on how to handle the pressure.
"To have been to three Paralympics before but not quite being able to get that gold, I look back at Tokyo and think about how grateful I am that I was able to do that," she said. "I still need to book my ticket to Paris but since I've been in canoeing, I've been defending world champion and I was world champion going into Tokyo. I don't think the target on the back is any different this time.
"I've been at the forefront of the classification for a few years, and I'm used to people chasing me down. It's important for me not to put that pressure on myself this time round."
Charlotte Henshaw has been working with a new coach ahead of her attempt at a doubleThe Paris Paralympics will see the addition of the va'a class alongside the kayak for the first time, giving athletes the opportunity to reach the podium in two events. Henshaw already has three VL3 - a class for athletes with full or almost full dynamic trunk function - world championship titles to her name, clinching gold in 2019, 2021 and 2022.
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It means that, pending selection, the paddler could have the opportunity to go for a historic double in Paris. And after being unable to retain her world title in 2023 due to selection policies, Henshaw is keen to get back into the boat this summer, with just a tight schedule standing in her way.
She said: "It was strategic move for me to sit out of the Va'as last Worlds but hopefully it will give me an option to double up in Paris.
"The timings will be tight at the Games for both events, but I've never had realistic medal hopes in two events before which is really exciting. I used to do all my racing in one day when I swam and I've had quite turnarounds at the Worlds before, so I have practiced it, I've just got to be extra sure I'll get it right at the Paralympics."
Former coach Colin Radmore's departure from the sport saw her catapulted into the teachings of ex-paddler Hannah Brown midway through the 2022 season. With less than two years on the water together, Henshaw revealed that she's enjoying the new challenge it entails.
"Over the last 18 months I've been trying to build a new coaching relationship which is not something that I've been well versed in during my career," she said. "I was with my swimming coach Glenn Smith for 18 years apart from when I went to university. I really value that longevity in a coach-athlete relationship, so it was quite a challenge for both parties at first.
"But what we've found is a really open and honest working relationship. Hannah is a former athlete herself and she's so passionate about canoeing and has so much knowledge and I think that has trickled down to her athletes.
"We're constantly searching for new ways to improve our paddling and that's all stemmed from her. I'm excited to see what we can do leading into Paris."
Henshaw is one of over 1,000 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class ProgrammeHenshaw is one of over 1,000 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing them to train full time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering medical support – which is vital for their pathway to the Paris 2024 Games.
And after 15 years of funding both in the pool and in the boat, Henshaw is well-versed in the importance of the funding on her journey to retaining gold.
"The National Lottery has been completely instrumental throughout my entire career," she said. "I've been lucky enough to be on a funded programme since 2008 and it means that I can really focus my time and energy on training all the time.
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"We train at the British Canoeing High Performance Centre, and we wouldn't be able to have the facilities we have without the National Lottery funding."
National Lottery players raise more than £30million a week for good causes including vital funding into sport – from grassroots to elite. Find out how your numbers make amazing happen at: www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk #TNLAthletes #MakeAmazingHappen