Injury trauma pushed Ryan Westley to the brink of retirement, leaving him determined to soak up every moment of his charge towards Paris 2024.

The Merriott canoer, 29, suffered a degraded ligament in one shoulder before damaging the cartilage in his other, causing his mental health to suffer as a result.

The 2018 World Championship silver medallist then put on 17 kilograms of weight during lockdown but has cast off his injury struggles to put himself back in contention for next summer’s Olympics.

“I’m feeling good. It’s the most I’ve enjoyed my paddling for about four or five years,” said Westley.

“I ended up in some pretty dark places. My eating was way worse, and everything was worse – getting out of bed was harder.

“I wanted to get out, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I remember having some bad problems with anxiety, I couldn’t breathe properly.

“I spoke to some professional people but never really felt like that helped. What helped me was choosing to focus on something rather than wallowing around.

“I made the decision to get back into canoeing and that gave me direction and drive and something to focus on.”

Westley is one of over 1,000 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing him to train full time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering medical support – this is vital for his pathway to the Paris 2024 Games.

A hugely successful breakthrough season in 2018 felt like a distant memory when Westley returned to the water post-lockdown, still suffering mentally and physically.

With no end in sight, Westley was ready to call it a day and relocate to the Lake District, where his partner Alexandra had even accepted a job, before one last pain-free training camp forced a change of plans.

He is now back ranking back amongst the top ten internationally and with a different mentality to boot.

“The one thing I really wanted to get out of my career was going to an Olympics, but I was chasing that because I felt like I deserved it, rather than because I enjoyed it,” he said.

“I realise looking back that was not the right way to think about it.

“I’m doing it now because I enjoy it, so the Olympics is less consequential and takes a bit of the pressure off.

“I didn’t think I’d ever be back in this position. I’m not far off the best shape I’ve ever been in now, which seemed so far away even six months ago.”

With the Paris 2024 Olympics only one year away, the Games are set to inspire people and communities all across the country. Westley hopes that by sharing his story it will give others motivation to get involved into sport.

Looking beyond Paris, Westley hopes to put what he has experienced to good effect by helping the next generation of stars to come through.

“I really want to go into working outdoors,” he added.

“I’m not fussed about making money, I’ve learned that I want to spend my time doing something I enjoy.

“I don’t think there are many things that people are going through that I haven’t been through, so hopefully I can help a few people out in the future.”

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