Joe Clarke (canoeist) explained

Joseph Clarke
Honorific Suffix:MBE
Nationality:British
Birth Date:1992 11, df=yes
Birth Place:Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
Education:Alleyne's Academy
Height:182 cm[1]
Weight:75 kg
Country:Great Britain
Sport:Canoe slalom
Event:K1, Kayak cross
Club:Stafford & Stone Canoe Club
Show-Medals:no

Joseph Clarke, (born 3 November 1992) is a British slalom canoeist who has competed at the international level since 2009, specializing in the K1 (kayak) and KX1 (extreme kayak/kayak cross) events.[2] He is the 2016 Olympic champion in the K1 event,[3] the 2023 World champion in the same event, and a triple World champion in the kayak cross discipline, and has won multiple medals at World and European Championships. He is the most successful kayak cross competitor at global level in the history of the event.

Early life

Clarke was born in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.[2] He first tried canoeing during a trip with The Scout Association at the age of eight.[4] He then applied to join the Stafford and Stone Canoe Club, but was rejected for being too young. He was given the chance to reapply through his middle school's canoeing club during year six at Walton Priory Middle School, but as they only had eight places available which were greatly oversubscribed he was required to write a letter to demonstrate why he deserved a place.[5] His application was successful and he began training with the club, competing in his first race in 2004 at the age of 11.[6] Clarke supports local team Stoke City F.C.[7]

Clarke attended Alleyne's Academy high school, after going to his middle school Walton Priory Middle School. At the age of 15 he contracted bacterial meningitis which caused an abscess behind one eye. He was in hospital for two weeks and was treated with intravenous antibiotics, after which he made a full recovery.[8]

Career

Clarke made his debut for the British junior team in 2009,[6] winning junior European Championship silver medals in the K1 team event in 2009 and 2010. He has trained at the Lee Valley White Water Centre since 2012.[9]

He won a European Championship under-23 silver medal in the individual K1 in 2013, and World Championship silver medals in the under-23 team event in 2013 and 2014.

At senior level, he won eight medals at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships with five golds (K1: 2023; Kayak cross: 2021, 2022, 2023; K1 team: 2018), one silver (K1 team: 2022) and two bronzes (K1 team: 2014, 2015).[10] He also won six medals (1 gold, 2 silvers and 3 bronzes) at the European Championships, including a bronze medal in the K1 event at the 2023 European Games in Kraków.

Clarke won the overall World Cup title in Kayak cross in 2023.

Clarke was selected for the 2016 Summer Olympics after winning the individual K1 at the British selection trials in October 2015.[11] At the Olympics he qualified for the final of the K1 event with the third fastest time in the semi-final. He won gold in the final with a time of 88.53 seconds,[12] the first time a British competitor had won gold in this event.[13]

Clarke was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to canoeing.

In 2018, Clarke guest starred in the third episode of the fourth series of the CBBC children cooking show Matilda and the Ramsay Bunch.[14]

World Cup individual podiums

Total
K1 3 4 2 9
Kayak cross 1 2 2 5
Total 4 6 4 14
SeasonDateVenuePositionEvent
2014 16 August 2014 bgcolor=silver2nd K1
2018 24 June 2018 3rd K1
1 July 2018 bgcolor=gold1st K1
2019 16 June 2019 bgcolor=gold1st K1
2021 11 September 2021 3rd K1
2022 12 June 2022 bgcolor=silver2nd Kayak cross
18 June 2022 bgcolor=silver2nd K1
19 June 2022 3rd Kayak cross
2023 2 June 2023 bgcolor=silver2nd K1
4 June 2023 3rd Kayak cross
18 June 2023 bgcolor=gold1st Kayak cross
2 September 2023 bgcolor=silver2nd K1
3 September 2023 bgcolor=silver2nd Kayak cross
2024 14 June 2024 bgcolor=gold1st K1

Results

2009

DateTournamentEventScorePlace
Run 1Run 2Best Run
22–26 JulyJunior European ChampionshipK1 Men Individual Heat110.28108.97108.9727[15]
K1 Men Team HeatN/A121.974
K1 Men Team FinalN/A115.452

2010

DateTournamentEventScorePlace
Run 1Run 2Best Run
8–11 JulyJunior World ChampionshipK1 Men Individual Heat102.40101.18101.183[16]
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A122.7930
K1 Men Team FinalN/A116.405
4–7 AugustJunior European ChampionshipK1 Men Individual Heat98.2396.9796.974[17]
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A104.8816
K1 Men Team FinalN/A115.022

2011

DateTournamentEventScorePlace
Run 1Run 2Best Run
1–3 JulyWorld Cup Race 2K1 Men Individual Heat102.40103.92102.4044[18]
14–17 JulyU23 European ChampionshipK1 Men Individual Heat97.84100.5497.8415[19]
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A101.6018
K1 Men Team Semi-finalN/A106.022
K1 Men Team FinalN/A117.736
~World Cup Final StandingsK1 Men IndividualN/A117[20]

2012

DateTournamentEventScorePlace
Run 1Run 2Best Run
11–15 JulyU23 World ChampionshipK1 Men Individual Heat115.37unknown30[21]
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A108.9612
K1 Men Team FinalN/A131.1510
6–9 SeptemberU23 European ChampionshipK1 Men Individual Heat113.38111.02111.028[22]
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A105.125
K1 Men Individual FinalN/A107.607
K1 Men TeamN/A128.619

2013

DateTournamentEventScorePlace
Run 1Run 2Best Run
6–9 JuneEuropean ChampionshipK1 Men Individual HeatN/A85.768[23]
K1 Men Individual FinalN/A138.0713
K1 Men Team FinalN/A103.247
21–23 JuneWorld Cup Race 1K1 Men Individualunknown
K1 Men Team FinalN/A107.854[24]
5–7 JulyWorld Cup Race 3K1 Men Individual Heatunknown
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A103.4030[25]
K1 Men Team Finalunknown
17–21 JulyU23 World ChampionshipK1 Men Individualunknown31[26]
K1 Men Teamunknown2
30 July – 4 AugustU23 European ChampionshipK1 Men Individualunknown2[27]
K1 Men Teamunknown4
16–18 AugustWorld Cup Race 4K1 Men Individual Heatunknown
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A112.0529[28]
K1 Men Team FinalN/A125.278
11–15 SeptemberWorld ChampionshipK1 Men Individual Heat140.8188.1088.109[29]
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A97.646
K1 Men Individual FinalN/A101.076
K1 Men Team FinalN/A113.945
~World Cup Final StandingsK1 Men IndividualN/A35[30]

2014

DateTournamentEventScorePlace
Run 1Run 2Best Run
22–27 AprilU23 World ChampionshipK1 Men Individual Heat95.0694.4494.449[31]
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A100.9311
K1 Men Team FinalN/A106.322
29 May – 1 JuneEuropean ChampionshipK1 Men Individual Heat87.52136.3587.5213z[32]
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A88.3015
K1 Men Individual FinalN/A91.4711
K1 Men Team FinalN/A98.752
6–8 JuneWorld Cup Race 1K1 Men Individual Heatunknown
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A97.8811[33]
K1 Men Team FinalN/A108.711[34]
13–15 JuneWorld Cup Race 2K1 Men Individual Heatunknown
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A152.1034[35]
K1 Men Team FinalN/A122.928[36]
20–22 JuneWorld Cup Race 3
K1 Men Individual Heatunknown
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalunknown
K1 Men Individual FinalN/A98.766[37]
K1 Men Team FinalN/A157.2110[38]
1–3 AugustWorld Cup Race 4K1 Men Individual Heatunknown
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A97.6824[39]
15–17 AugustWorld Cup FinalK1 Men Individual Heatunknown
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalunknown
K1 Men Individual FinalN/A95.492[40]
K1 Men Team FinalN/A113.926[41]
17–21 SepWorld ChampionshipK1 Men Individual Heat101.05204.40101.0519[42]
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A156.3636
K1 Men Team FinalN/A123.243
~World Cup Final StandingsK1 Men IndividualN/A4[43]

2015

DateTournamentEventScorePlace
Run 1Run 2Best Run
28–31 MayEuropean ChampionshipK1 Men Individual Heat94.91unknown1[44]
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A95.143
K1 Men Individual FinalN/A96.168
K1 Men Team FinalN/A108.012
19–21 JuneWorld Cup Race 1K1 Men Individual Heatunknown
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalunknown
K1 Men Individual FinalN/ADSQ-R10[45]
K1 Men Team FinalN/A103.194[46]
26–28 JuneWorld Cup Race 2K1 Men Individual Heatunknown
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalunknown
K1 Men Individual FinalN/A82.484[47]
3–5 JulyWorld Cup Race 3K1 Men Individual Heatunknown
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A98.7729[48]
K1 Men Team FinalN/ADNS=16[49]
7–9 AugustWorld Cup Race 4K1 Men Individual Heatunknown
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalunknown
K1 Men Individual FinalN/A96.059[50]
14–16 AugustWorld Cup FinalK1 Men Individual Heatunknown
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A100.2318[51]
K1 Men Team FinalN/A106.482[52]
16–20 SeptemberWorld ChampionshipK1 Men Individual Heat81.47unknown2[53]
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A142.5738
K1 Men Team FinalN/A106.383
~World Cup Final StandingsK1 Men IndividualN/A7[54]

2016

DateTournamentEventScorePlace
Run 1Run 2Best Run
13–15 MayEuropean ChampionshipK1 Men Individual Heat92.58unknown19[55]
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A94.985
K1 Men Individual FinalN/A144.5810
K1 Men Team FinalN/A118.174
10–12 JuneWorld Cup Race 2K1 Men Individual Heatunknown
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A96.1618[56]
7–11 AugustOlympic GamesK1 Men Individual Heat135.8986.9586.952[57]
K1 Men Individual Semi-finalN/A90.673
K1 Men Individual FinalN/A88.531
World Cup Final StandingsK1 Men IndividualN/A61[58]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Joseph Clarke . Rio2016.com . . 11 August 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160806041445/https://www.rio2016.com/en/athlete/joseph-clarke . 6 August 2016 .
  2. Web site: Joe Clarke. British Canoeing. 11 August 2016.
  3. Web site: Joe Clarke. https://web.archive.org/web/20200418035325/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/cl/joe-clarke-1.html. dead. 18 April 2020. Sports-Reference.com. 17 December 2017.
  4. News: Rice. Simon. Rio 2016: Joe Clarke goes to the extremes in the pursuit of Olympic perfection. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220609/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/rio-2016-joe-clarke-going-to-the-extremes-in-the-pursuit-of-olympic-perfection-a7087241.html . 9 June 2022 . subscription . live. The Independent. 5 August 2016. 11 August 2016.
  5. News: Kelso. Paul. Olympic Hero Joe Clarke Had To Beg To Take Up Kayak. Sky News. 11 August 2016. 11 August 2016.
  6. News: Joe Clarke: who is the Team GB canoe slalom gold medallist?. The Daily Telegraph. 10 August 2016. 10 August 2016.
  7. News: Lawro's Premier League predictions v Olympic kayak gold medallist Joe Clarke . BBC Sport . 20 October 2016. 2 February 2021.
  8. News: Olympics 2016 preview: Hard worker Joe Clarke hopes to strike gold. Staffordshire Newsletter. 3 August 2016. 14 August 2016.
  9. News: Davenport. Justin. Churchill. David. Olympics 2016: I'm still in a dream, says girlfriend of canoe star Joe Clarke who won historic gold. Evening Standard. 11 August 2016. 11 August 2016.
  10. Web site: Joseph CLARKE (GBR). CanoeSlalom.net. 17 December 2017.
  11. News: Smith. Pete. Canoeing: Joe Clarke qualifies for Olympics – but heartbreak for Lizzie Neave. The Sentinel. 26 October 2015. 11 August 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151027133306/http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Canoe-Joe-Clarke-qualifies-Olympics-heartbreak/story-28056333-detail/story.html. 27 October 2015.
  12. Web site: Rio Olympics 2016: Briton Joe Clarke wins gold in the kayak K1. BBC Sport. 11 August 2016. 10 August 2016.
  13. News: Lopez. Cesar. Britain's Joseph Clarke is the fastest slalom kayaker in the world. NBC Olympics. 10 August 2016. 13 August 2016.
  14. Web site: Matilda and the Ramsay Bunch (TV Series).
  15. Web site: European Championship Junior 2009 Results list. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160912104649/http://canoeslalom.net/archive/2009/2009-07-26-jem-liptovsky-mikulas.pdf. 12 September 2016. dmy-all.
  16. Web site: European Championship Junior 2010 Results list. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220193908/https://www.canoeslalom.net/archive/2010/2010-08-07-el-jem-u23-em-markkleeberg.pdf. 20 December 2016. dmy-all.
  17. Web site: Junior World Championship 2010 Results list. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220193752/https://www.canoeslalom.net/int/results/jwm2010.html. 20 December 2016. dmy-all.
  18. Web site: 2011 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Results list. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223645/http://www.canoeslalom.net/archive/2011/2011-07-03-wc2-argentiere.pdf. 3 March 2016. dmy-all.
  19. Web site: European Championship U23 2011 Results list. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160912104234/http://canoeslalom.net/archive/2011/2011-07-17-jem-u23-em-banja-luka.pdf. 12 September 2016. dmy-all.
  20. Web site: 2011 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Series Standings. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160912104606/http://canoeslalom.net/archive/2011/2011-08-14-worldcup-final-ranking.pdf. 12 September 2016. dmy-all.
  21. Web site: European Championship U23 2012 Results list. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220193028/https://www.canoeslalom.net/archive/2012/2012-07-15-el-jwm-u23-wm-wausau.pdf. 20 December 2016. dmy-all.
  22. Web site: World Championship U23 2012 Results list. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220193049/https://www.canoeslalom.net/archive/2012/2012-09-09-el-jem-u23-em-solkan.pdf. 20 December 2016. dmy-all.
  23. Web site: European Championship 2013 Results list. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160912110237/http://canoeslalom.net/archive/2013/2013-06-09-ergebnisliste-em-krakow.pdf. 12 September 2016. dmy-all.
  24. Web site: 2013 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Race 1-K1 Team Results list. 11 December 2016.
  25. Web site: 2013 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Race 3 Results list. 11 December 2016.
  26. Web site: U23 World Championship 2013 Results list. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220193701/https://www.canoeslalom.net/int/results/wm2013_u23.html. 20 December 2016. dmy-all.
  27. Web site: U23 European Championship 2013 Results list. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220193306/https://www.canoeslalom.net/int/results/em2013_u23.html. 20 December 2016. dmy-all.
  28. Web site: 2013 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Race 2-K1 Individual Results list. 11 December 2016.
  29. Web site: World Championship 2013 Results list. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160912104546/http://canoeslalom.net/archive/2013/2013-09-15-ergebnisliste-wm-prag.pdf. 12 September 2016. dmy-all.
  30. Web site: 2013 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Series Standings. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160912102957/http://canoeslalom.net/archive/2013/2013-08-25-world-cup-final-ranking.pdf. 12 September 2016. dmy-all.
  31. Web site: U23 World Championship 2014 Results list. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220193554/https://www.canoeslalom.net/archive/2014/2014-04-25-jwm-u23-wm-penrith.zip. 20 December 2016. dmy-all.
  32. Web site: European Championship 2014 Result list. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160912102957/http://canoeslalom.net/archive/2013/2013-08-25-world-cup-final-ranking.pdf. 12 September 2016. dmy-all.
  33. Web site: 2014 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Race 1-K1 Individual Results list. 11 December 2016.
  34. Web site: 2014 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Race 1-K1 Team Results list. 11 December 2016.
  35. Web site: 2014 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Race 2-K1 Individual Results list. 11 December 2016.
  36. Web site: 2014 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Race 2-K1 Team Results list. 11 December 2016.
  37. Web site: 2014 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Race 3-K1 Individual Results list. 11 December 2016.
  38. Web site: 2014 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Race 3-K1 Team Results list. 11 December 2016.
  39. Web site: 2014 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Race 4-K1 Individual Results list. 11 December 2016.
  40. Web site: 2014 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Race Final-K1 Individual Results list. 11 December 2016.
  41. Web site: 2014 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Race Final-K1 Team Results list. 11 December 2016.
  42. Web site: World Championship 2014 Result list. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160912104818/http://canoeslalom.net/archive/2014/2014-09-21-wm-deep-creek.pdf. 12 September 2016. dmy-all.
  43. Web site: 2014 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Series Standings. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160912110527/http://canoeslalom.net/archive/2014/2014-08-17-world-cup-final-ranking.pdf. 12 September 2016. dmy-all.
  44. Web site: European Championship 2015 Result list. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160912104450/http://canoeslalom.net/archive/2015/2015-05-31-ergebnisliste-em-markkleeberg.pdf. 12 September 2016. dmy-all.
  45. Web site: 2015 ICF Canoe World Cup Race 1-K1 Individual Results list. 11 December 2016.
  46. Web site: 2015 ICF Canoe World Cup Race 1-K1 Team Results list. 11 December 2016.
  47. Web site: 2015 ICF Canoe World Cup Race 2-K1 Individual Results list. 11 December 2016.
  48. Web site: 2015 ICF Canoe World Cup Race 3-K1 Individual Results list. 11 December 2016.
  49. Web site: 2015 ICF Canoe World Cup Race 3-K1 Team Results list. 11 December 2016.
  50. Web site: 2015 ICF Canoe World Cup Race 4-K1 Individual Results list. 11 December 2016.
  51. Web site: 2015 ICF Canoe World Cup Race 4-K1 Individual Results list. 11 December 2016.
  52. Web site: 2015 ICF Canoe World Cup Final-K1 Team Results list. 11 December 2016.
  53. Web site: World Championship 2015 Result list. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160912104611/http://canoeslalom.net/archive/2015/2015-09-20-ergebnisliste-wm-london.pdf. 12 September 2016. dmy-all.
  54. Web site: 2015 ICF Canoe World Cup Series Standings. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160912105031/http://canoeslalom.net/archive/2015/2015-08-16-world-cup-final-ranking.pdf. 12 September 2016. dmy-all.
  55. Web site: European Championship 2016 Results list. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220193935/https://www.canoeslalom.net/archive/2016/2016-05-15-em-liptovsky.pdf. 20 December 2016. dmy-all.
  56. Web site: 2016 ICF Canoe World Cup Race 2-K1 Individual Results list. 11 December 2016.
  57. Web site: Olympic Games 2016 Results list. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220193755/https://www.canoeslalom.net/archive/2016/2016-08-11-results-olympic-games-rio.pdf. 20 December 2016. dmy-all.
  58. Web site: 2016 ICF Canoe World Cup Series Standings. 11 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220193658/https://www.canoeslalom.net/archive/2016/2016-09-11-world-cup-final-ranking.pdf. 20 December 2016. dmy-all.