Etienne Stott

Stephen "Etienne" Stott MBE (born 30 June 1979 in Manchester) is an English slalom canoeist who has competed since the early 2000s initially in the K-1 category, but later on switching to C-2. He is the Olympic Champion in the C-2 event from the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Career

Etienne and his partner Tim Baillie won two bronze medals in the C-2 team event at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships (2009, 2011). They also won a bronze medal in the C-2 event at the 2009 European Championships at the Holme Pierrepont National Watersports Centre, Nottingham, England and came in fourth place at the 2009 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in La Seu d'Urgell. They won another silver and a bronze in the C-2 team event at the European Championships alongside the other UK boats of David Florence/Richard Hounslow and Daniel Goddard/Colin Radmore. In 2012 they were a part of the British team that won gold at the European Championships in Augsburg in the C-2 team event. They are British Premier Division Champions and British Open Champions.

At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Stott and partner Timothy Baillie qualified through the heats for the C-2 event on 30 July, and subsequently progressed to the semi-final. The semi-final consisted of one run each, with the six best competitors qualifying for the final. Stott and Baillie finished in sixth place, taking the final spot and consequently qualifying for the final. As a result of their sixth-place finish, the slowest qualifying time out of the six remaining competitors, Stott and Baillie ran first in the final, securing a time of 106.41. The time was not beaten, with Stott and Baillie winning the gold medal in front of a 12,000 strong home crowd at the Lee Valley White Water Centre on 2 August. Fellow British boat of David Florence and Richard Hounslow finished second with a time of 106.77. Stott and Baillie's success was described as "unexpected" and a "surprise", with the pair describing winning gold as "mad".

Stott was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to canoeing.

He has credited meditation/mindfulness as significantly helpful in his sporting achievement.

Personal life

Born in Manchester, Stott grew up in Bedford, England, and attended Biddenham Upper School. He studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nottingham. He learned to paddle on the River Great Ouse with St. Andrews Scouts, and developed his slalom skills with Viking Kayak Club, of which he is still a member and a vice president. He is now a member of the British Canoe Union's GB Canoeing World Class team based at Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham. Etienne was named Bedford Sports Personality of the Year in 2008.

Career highlights

• 2012 Summer Olympics, London - Gold Medal Men's C2
• 2011 Australian Open - Penrith Whitewater Stadium - Silver Medal Men's C2
• 2010 World Championships - Tacen - 17th place
• 2010 European Championships - Bratislava - 4th place Men's C2 & Bronze Medal Men's Team C2
• 2010 World Cup: Event 1 Prague 9th; Event 2 La Seu d'Urgell Parc Olímpic del Segre 6th, Event 3 Augsburg Eiskanal 3rd
• 2009 World Championships - La Seu d’Urgell Parc Olímpic del Segre - 4th place Men's C2, Bronze Medal Men's Team C2
• 2009 European Championships - Nottingham Holme Pierrepont National Watersports Centre Bronze Medal, Men's C2, Silver Medal Men's Team C2
• 2009 World Cup: Overall 4th; Event 1 Pau 7th; Event 2 Bratislava 5th; Augsburg 5th