Adam Burgess is a 70 kg British slalom canoeist who has been competing internationally since 2008. He is now competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Adam Burgess Qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics
Adam Burgess has been named to Great Britain’s canoe slalom team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, seeking to improve on his fourth-place finish in Tokyo.
At this summer’s European Games, Burgess helped teammates Ryan Westley and James Kettle in capturing bronze for Team GB in the men’s canoe team event. His contributions show the 30-year-old’s continued development since Tokyo.
Whilst at the 2023 European Games in Poland, Burgess helped teammates Ryan Westley and James Kettle to a bronze medal for Team GB in the men’s team canoe.
“I’ve built on the Tokyo performance, and it has been a couple of seasons since”
Adam Burgess said.
As one of over 1,000 National Lottery-funded athletes in the World Class Programme, he receives full-time training, world-class coaching, and pioneering medical care to improve Paris preparations.
Burgess credits functional breathing techniques for advancing his training. Paris 2024 offers a second chance at an Olympic medal after missing the podium by 0.16 seconds in Tokyo. He won in a difficult team selection over close friend Ryan Westley.
Adam Burgess’s Early life
Adam Burgess was born on July 17, 1992, in Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom. Standing at 5′ 11″ (180 cm), Burgess weighs approximately 70 kg.
His mother, Carole Mc Granachan, provided encouragement and support during Burgess’ formative years. Burgess was first introduced to canoe slalom through the Scouts program.
Adam Burgess Canoeing Career
Early career
Burgess’ introduction to canoe slalom came through the Scouts program, providing his first paddling experience. In 2012, Burgess gained selection to Team GB‘s Ambition Programme targeting the London Olympics. Though not yet on the Olympic squad, this initial glimpse of representing Great Britain provided invaluable experience.
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A superb 2015 established Burgess as Britain’s premier young C1 talent. He captured the U23 World Championships crown along with a finalist showing at the senior World Championships.
Burgess continued excelling with a 2018 European Championships silver and consistent World Cup final appearances, including winning World Cup silver on home waters in Lee Valley in 2019. A men’s C1 team bronze with teammates David Florence and Ryan Westley at the World Championships.
Professional career
Burgess captured the European Championships silver in 2018, establishing himself as a top international medal contender. The following year saw a silver on home waters at the Lee Valley World Cup venue.
Burgess competed in his first Olympics as part of Team Great Britain at the 2020 Tokyo Games, entering the men’s C1 event. He put together an excellent run that came very close to winning him a medal. Burgess finished in 4th place in his first-ever Olympic appearance, just missing the podium.
In 2023, Burgess consistently performed at a high level by making it to three Men’s C1 finals in a row but fell just shy of medaling several times. He also won two team event medals in 2023, including a silver at the World Championships.
As of 2023, Burgess, who is part of the Stafford & Stone Canoe Club, has won a total of four medals at the European Championships and five medals at the World Championships over his career so far. The 2018 European silver medal has been his only individual podium finish out of those.
