From the Pool to Paddles: Paralympic Medalist Charlotte Henshaw Announces Switch

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Photo Courtesy: Jiri Hodan
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Two-time Paralympic medalist and three-time Paralympic World Championships medalist Charlotte Henshaw has announced her retirement from the sport of swimming – but not sports in general.

Henshaw competed in the Beijing Games in 2008, followed by a silver medal performance in the SB6 100 breaststroke in London and bronze in the same event in Rio. The event also earned her two IPC World Championship silver medals and one bronze between 2010 and 2015. She was the European Champion in both 2009 and 2016.

Now, instead of jumping into the pool everyday, Henshaw will add a buffer between her and the water. For the last few months, she has been training with the British Para-Canoeing team, and plans to continue this training. According to Inside the Game, she is currently a part of the talent confirmation program. She said:

“I watched the brilliant performances of the Para-canoe team in Rio and was very keen to try something new. I felt like I was ready to take on a new challenge that is different from anything I have done before. After spending so many years doing one sport, it’s refreshing and exciting to be able to push myself in a completely different way.”

Henshaw, whose Twitter profile now boasts a canoeing photo alongside her Paralympic Bronze Medal, posted the following:

Henshaw knows success at all levels of swimming, and will be looking to transfer these lessons over to canoeing throughout the Tokyo Olympic Cycle. Henshaw told the BBC that her first goal is making the European Championships, and then she has her sights set on the ultimate canoeing championships.

“A fourth Paralympic Games would be beyond what I had ever imagined, but I would love to be there in Tokyo – on the water instead of in it this time,” Henshaw said.

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