A lifetime of watersports

A lifetime of water sports was the perfect foundation for success for New Zealand Team canoeist Kurtis Imrie.

Kurtis made his Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020, but the scene for his success was set many years beforehand.

Originally from Wellington, Kurtis got his first taste of life on the water as a junior surf lifesaver on the Kapiti Coast, where he was introduced to surf ski racing. To get better at surf ski, he took up canoeing with Mana Kayak Club in Porirua.

“Ironically, I chose to stick with canoeing. Staying in a kayak on water is a lot warmer than being out in the surf,” he jokes.

Being warm aside, it’s just as well Kurtis made the switch. After earning a spot on the junior squad at 17, it was steady progress until he joined the men’s squad in 2017. Kurtis spent much of 2019 competing overseas where he says he was starting to really put in some decent performances and race times. 

On returning home in 2019, something wasn’t quite right.

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A health scare and journey back to recovery

“When I landed in New Zealand, I had a niggly sore throat but didn’t think anything of it,” says Kurtis.

Turns out, he’d contracted glandular fever. “I was absolutely gutted” he says.

Kurtis spent the next 8-12 months recovering. “I was out of the boat for nearly a year. My energy levels were incredibly low and I needed a lot of rest, which is pretty hard do as an active 19 year-old.”

The next couple of years felt like slow progress, Kurtis says, while he focused on gradually building his strength back up and working on his nutrition to recover energy and boost immunity. 

The hard work paid off, and Kurtis was back on the water preparing for Olympic selection in Tokyo and then also qualified for Paris. 

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Nothing stops in the lead up to an Olympics

While the majority of training for Cambridge-based Kurtis is on the water, his cross-training sessions are done at his local Flex Fitness gym.

“The gym has been great for those cross-training cardio sessions, as well as for weekend stretching and mobility.

“Access to the sauna has been handy too, to help train mental fitness after a cardio session – that’s definitely something you can’t do outside, and when the weather is being unpredictable it’s great to just pop down and get it done indoors.

“I’m really thankful to be able to access Flex Fitness and for their support.”

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Flex Fitness proud to support Kurtis Imrie Olympic Canoeist

As an official partner of the New Zealand Team, Flex Fitness is thrilled to stand alongside the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) and share our passion for fitness and excellence with the nation’s athletes.

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