Kristina Armstrong, a 21-year-old kayak racer from Linlithgow, is preparing to compete at the ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships in the K4 500m four-person kayak, while also entering her third year of medical studies at the University of St Andrews.
Balancing academics and athletics
Armstrong, a former U23 European champion who earned a place on the World Class Programme in 2025, explained how she manages her academic and sporting commitments. She divides her time between Scotland and Nottingham, depending on the season.
"I study and live in Scotland during term time, but I try to come down to Nottingham as much as I can. When it’s summertime and during racing season, I live in Nottingham," she said. "You have to make sure that you’re enjoying either side, it would be pretty difficult to do both if you weren’t enjoying them both."
Prioritising without overstress
Armstrong emphasised the importance of prioritising different aspects at different times. "When it’s racing season, I am not studying at all – it helps me balance and not get overstressed," she noted. She also credited her teammates for providing motivation: "The team here helps push me on and training with them makes a big difference. It’s good to see us all working hard together and it definitely helps with motivation when other people are pushing you on."
Podium ambitions in Poland
Armstrong is aiming to improve on Great Britain's ninth-place finish in the A final in Milan last year. She also praised teammate Emily Lewis, who will lead the K4 kayak. "Emily’s been at the front of the boat for a few years now and all of us in the boat have confidence in her to execute a race plan. We always know what we’ll get when we start a race," she added.
Paddle UK, the national governing body for canoeing, kayaking and other paddle sports, supports the athletes. Armstrong was part of the first all-Scottish crew to compete for GB in the K2 500m at last year's World Championships alongside Deborah Kerr.
