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Matthew Lister: Alwoodley canoeist has sights set on London 2012
As a 10-year-old Alwoodley's Matthew Lister hadn't even sat in a canoe – then when he did and took to water he kept capsizing and falling out.
Gradually, though, the youngster got the hang of it and six years on he's one of Team GB's leading prospects for London 2012.
Lister had no thoughts of a canoeing career as a youngster but was drawn to the sport after his older sister Charlotte signed up for a 'have-a-go' session run by White Rose Canoe Club.
Charlotte is now a canoe polo player for Great Britain.
Not wanting to miss out, Lister insisted he went too and therein a potential canoeing star of the future was born.
Not that you'd have known it, Lister was hardly a natural and it was only when the competitive element was really introduced that the youngster began to shine.
Fast forward to July 2008 and how times have changed – Lister and partner Rhys Davies claimed 10th in the Junior European Championships in Slovenia and top GB entry and eighth in the Junior Worlds in the
Czech Republic.
Lister's and Evans' exploits have earned them a trip to the Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney next January – designed to help promising athletes aged under 19 prepare for future Olympic Games.
London could be calling and the 16-year-old Allerton High School student is now so glad he gave that first session a whirl.
"My sister went to a 'have-a-go' session run by the White Rose Canoe Club at Roundhay Park lake," recalled Lister.
"I got jealous and wanted to do it as well! I wasn't really into it at the beginning – I was basically just going to pools, getting in a boat, falling out and then sinking the boat.
"I then started getting a bit of coaching and then it just escalated from there really."
By his own admission, Lister was definitely not one of those sporting stars that shone from first glance.
Indeed, even a year ago, Lister would have scoffed at suggestions he was a potential Olympian.
"Up until the last year it wasn't looking like I was going to get anywhere with canoeing but over the last year things have just fallen into place and everything has just got better and better," said Lister, who turns 17 next March.
"It started at the selection series at the beginning of the year – I had a race and I beat everyone by 16 seconds. After that I started getting a bit more respect from everyone.
"A year ago if someone would have told me I would be going to the Worlds and Euros this year I wouldn't have believed them – especially if they would have said you are going to Australia as well.
"I probably would have laughed at them and it wasn't really what anyone thought I could do."
Lister also admits a big part of his success has been increasing the intensity of his training at the Welsh National Watersports Centre in Bala, the Tees Barrage White Water Course and the National Watersports Centre in Nottingham where he now also trains during the week.
He added: "Basically the more you put in, the more you get out of it and now this is the number one thing in my life."
Lister competes domestically in three classes – K1 (single kayak), C1 (single canoe) and C2 (two man canoe).
He competes against all ages and during 2008 he was the only person in the country ranked in the highest division (Premier) for all three disciplines.
Now it is Lister's new-found partnership with fellow 17-year-old C2 partner Davies that has catapulted the pair to fame.
Davies hails from Bala, Wales and the duo have not looked back since they formed their partnership in May.
However, the two are actually very different characters despite their natural chemistry in the boat.
"Everyone is quite surprised at how well we get on because we are completely different people," said Lister.
"I'm really outgoing and loud and bubbly and he's really quiet and doesn't really talk much.
"He's a very good cook, though, he's into his cooking and that's basically all he does – he cooks and trains!"
Davies also played another hugely important role in Spain recently – where he more or less saved his partner's life!
"A couple of weeks ago we were in Spain and I fell in and smacked my head on a rock underneath the water," said Lister.
"I got myself concussion and I couldn't physically roll myself up so Rhys had to basically roll me back up.
"If he wasn't there I'd have probably drowned.
"It shouldn't happen again! I like the danger factor really. It's not like swimming or rowing, it's always different wherever you go.
"Even when you are training it's never the same.
"There are so many variables in canoeing and it's not like any other sport."
Canoeing has now taken over Lister's life – the youngster is sitting A-Levels in English, Biology and PE at Allerton High Sixth Form but there is no denying what comes first.
The Lister household literally breathes canoeing with 20-year-old Charlotte also a Great Britain international and Lister admits the two siblings share rivalry but also support each other.
Lister says his canoeing career would have been impossible without the support of dad David and mum Julia and is now hooked on his passion in a big way.
"It means the world to me and if anyone took it away from me or stopped me from doing it, I don't know what I'd do," he said.
"It's my number one thing.
"It's hard to get all my training in as well as all my school work but I'm managing to get a balance at the minute."
Lister's ultimate goal is an Olympic medal come 2012 and the young star feels with his perfect partner in Davies, the world is the duo's oyster.
Team GB's Dave Florence made headlines with his C1 slalom silver medal in Beijing this year but Lister is dreaming of going one better at London 2012.
"Basically, now that we've found out what we're good at which is the C2, I reckon we can get to 2012, easily!" said Lister.
"We're pushing the seniors now as it is. My ambition is like every athlete's ambition and to get the gold medal.
"We'll see when we get there!"
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 19 May 2012
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Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 10 C
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