Sam Leaver heads into this summer's ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships full of confidence after a standout 12 months that have established him among Britain's leading paddlers. The 21-year-old arrives in Oklahoma as a World Cup champion and European medallist, with ambitions of adding a world title to his growing list of achievements.
Leaver is drawing on his experience as an Arsenal steward to cultivate an elite mindset ahead of the championships. The canoe slalom star from Edinburgh works among the matchday staff at the Emirates Stadium, witnessing the Gunners' historic title-winning season first-hand and getting to know the players.
Drawing Inspiration from Elite Sport
Leaver said: "If you ever see the away team making substitutions at an Arsenal game on the TV, you'll see me in the background. Basically, I sit on the bench next to the staff. I get to watch the whole game and then I see the players quite a lot. You end up sorting a few logistics with their families before and after the game. You speak to them and you start to realise they're really not that different from you."
He added: "I've had a full conversation with Declan Rice - he was really nice to me. They start to recognise your face. Bukayo Saka's dad came and spoke to me. Kai Havertz as well, Gabriel Jesus, they all say hi."
A Season of Silverware
As Arsenal clinched a first Premier League trophy in 22 years, Leaver has found himself gathering silverware too. A bronze medal at the 2025 European Championships was followed by the overall World Cup title in kayak cross individual. The 21-year-old has kept up his form early this season, storming to individual gold at the World Cup event in Tacen.
Despite his reputation as one of Britain's finest paddlers, he's yet to break the secret to his heroes. He said: "Until you can really attach the Olympic name to it, I just wonder how much attention it would get."
Mental Resilience and Mindset
Leaver noted: "You could feel the stress at times last season. But when you were in and around the players, they were confident and happy after their games. I remember it was after the Sporting Lisbon game that I was speaking to Declan Rice, and he was happy, chatting away, making jokes with me about the fact that he thought I look like Scott McTominay. It's the same themes that you're seeing in successful performances for myself - relaxed, calm, focused, all these correct mindsets; they all have the same thing."
He added: "That's why, when I say the more time you spend around them, the more you realise they're really similar to yourself. You see them with the same emotions and similar thoughts."
Family Support and Ambitions
Leaver will be able to lean on his sister Lois, who is included in the women's squad for the World Championships. A time trial triumph is well within his reach despite only recently entering the senior set-up, such is his skill in the discipline. He said: "I have a good understanding of how to manipulate the poles to make my lines around them faster. My straight line speed is good. Other people are faster than me at that though. But I think my real strong point is the way I do the upstream gates. I'd like to be in the final in slalom. But to be honest with you, I want to win the World Championships in kayak cross."
The ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Oklahoma also serve as the first qualification event for the Olympics, which will be held at the same venue in two years' time. Paddle UK is the national governing body for canoeing, kayaking and all other paddle sports.
