Bingham's David Phillipson is targeting another World Championships title as he begins the road towards what could be his final Paralympic Games at LA 2028.
Defending champion in Poznan
Phillipson, 37, will compete for Great Britain in KL2 kayak racing at the ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships later this month as defending champion. He will take to the water in Poznan from 26-30 August over 200m, and the competition will be another marker before what he admitted may be his last trip to the Paralympics.
A five-time Paralympian
A five-time Paralympian, Phillipson first competed in wheelchair tennis at Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016, before representing Team GB in paracanoe at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. The Huntingdon-born athlete is fighting to make it to the city of angels.
Phillipson said: “LA 2028 is definitely a big target and it might possibly be my last one, so I’m looking to go to the Paralympics and medal again. I don’t think that it will hit me until I’m nearer to the time, I’m just looking forward to taking things one step at a time at the next World Championships, World Cups, Europeans. There’s a few youngsters coming up and I’m happy to encourage them.”
Team and preparation
He is part of a team which includes reigning Paris 2024 champions Charlotte Henshaw and Emma Wiggs, as well as 2024 Paralympic silver medallists Hope Gordon and Jack Eyers. Phillipson spoke on his game plan to retain his World title this month and where he hopes improvements could be seen.
He said: “My starts are really strong and that’s where I’m dominant – it’s the back end of races which catch me out, so I’ve been training over and over for that. It’s about trying to keep fit and my technique’s got better, it’s just keeping all that topped up.
“And without UK Sport and The National Lottery, I wouldn’t be able to race full time, they’re a massive help. Without them we wouldn’t be able to go racing.”
Paddle UK is the national governing body for canoeing, kayaking and all other paddle sports.
