Jonas Ecker Explained

Jonas Ecker
Birth Date:26 October 2002
Height:6’ 1”
Country:United States
Sport:Sprint kayak
Event:K-1 1000 m, K-2 500 m
Club:Bellingham Canoe and Kayak Sprint Team
Education:University of Washington

Jonas Ecker (born October 26, 2002) is an American sprint kayaker. He qualified to represent the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics. He also won two medals at the 2023 Pan American Games, a silver in the K-1 1000 meters event and a bronze in the K-2 500 meters event.

Biography

Ecker was born on October 26, 2002.[1] He grew up in Bellingham, Washington.[2] He attended Bellingham's Sehome High School and later attended the University of Washington, where he majored in marine biology.[2] [3]

Ecker started paddling at age 12 with the Bellingham Canoe and Kayak Sprint Team.[3] [4] He participated at the National Sprint Championships and reached the finals of his age group in 2016.[5] He also competed at the Junior Ski to Sea Race several times and began competing at the main event in 2018.[2] He became a member of the United States national sprint canoeing team in 2018.[2] He won the national sprint canoe championship in 2021 and 2022 while also winning the 2022 U.S. Canoe Spring National Team Trials.[2]

Ecker partnered with Aaron Small in 2022 for K-2 canoeing events.[6] [7] He competed at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, and won two medals: winning silver in the K-1 1000 meters event and winning bronze with Small at the K-2 500 meters event.[8] In 2024, he competed at the Canoe Sprint Americas Continental Olympic Qualifier with Small and they won in the finals in the K-2 500 meters event, securing a place at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[9] [10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jonas Ecker. American Canoe Association.
  2. News: This U.S. kayaking champion born and raised in Bellingham is back to compete in Ski to Sea . archive.ph. Bellingham Herald. May 24, 2022. Messmer, Alyse.
  3. Web site: Student-athlete, Jonas Ecker, qualifies for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. University of Washington. May 13, 2024.
  4. Web site: Jonas Ecker. Team USA.
  5. News: Bellingham paddlers make big medal haul at national championships . archive.ph. Bellingham Herald. August 12, 2016. Rabasch, David.
  6. Web site: Washington sprint canoe duo qualify for 2024 Olympics. KING-TV. April 22, 2024. Egan, Chris.
  7. News: Bellingham sprint kayaker is one step away from Paris Olympics. Cascadia Daily News. subscription. April 11, 2024. Benintendi, Connor J..
  8. Web site: Pan American Games 2023: Team USA's medal winners – full list. Olympics.com. November 5, 2023.
  9. Web site: Two Americans qualify for 2024 Olympics at Panam Canoe Sprint championships in Sarasota. WBBH-TV. April 24, 2024. Smith, Bailey.
  10. News: Bellingham paddler to compete at Paris Olympics. Cascadia Daily News. April 23, 2024. Benintendi, Connor J.. subscription.