Video Shout-Out from Riley Fitzsimmons

Riley Fitzsimmons is an Australian sprint canoeist. He competed in the men's K-4 1000 metres at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and in both the men's K-2 1000 metres and men's K-4 500 metres at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Riley Fitzsimmons has been an apprentice in more ways than one. The surf lifesaving champion started kayaking to improve his surf ski skills and off the water, he's studied a carpentry and construction apprenticeship. With dreams of going to the Olympic Games, Fitzsimmons turned to kayaking in 2012 but continues to compete for Avoca Beach SLSC and amongst others, took out the men's surf ski world title at the 2018 Lifesaving World Championships.

Fitzsimmons debuted on the Australian senior canoe sprint team in the same year and went on to make his Olympic debut the following year at Rio 2016. Fitzsimmons and Wood put themselves on the Rio radar when they won the first Grand Prix regatta of the 2016 season. The duo defeated 2015 World Championships silver medallists and mentor, Tame and triple Olympian, Ken Wallace.  

Fitzsimmons with his long-term K2 partner and 'best mate', Wood, won their selection to Tokyo when they claimed K2 1000 gold at the 2020 Australian Championships in a time of 3 min 12.04sec, with the duo overcoming newcomers Tom Green and Jean van der Westhuyzen who finished second by a 1.05sec margin. Finishing 6th in the K2 final at the games.