Central Otago Paddler Collier Secures Silver in China

Jordan Collier, a rising paddler from Central Otago, capped off a successful year by earning a silver medal at the Chinese Wildwater International Open just before Christmas. The event, held on the Nu Jiang River in Yunnan Province over three days, featured five competitive disciplines: short distance, long distance, kayak cross, challenge race, and rafting race.

In this year’s competition, the 22-year-old athlete achieved impressive placements, finishing second, fifth, fourth, fourth, and fifth in the respective events. This marks Collier’s third consecutive year at the competition and his third medal overall, having won silver in the challenge race in 2023 and bronze in the kayak cross in 2022.

Collier expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “This result wraps up an exceptional year for me.” His achievements in 2023 included a historic victory as the first New Zealander to secure gold at the junior and under-23 canoe slalom world championships. He triumphed in the under-23 kayak cross event held in Foix, France, enhancing his reputation in the sport.

This latest victory builds on his previous success, as he improved upon his silver medal performance at the same world championships in Poland two years ago. The kayak cross discipline is noteworthy, particularly because it is the same event in which fellow Alexandra paddler Finn Butcher won gold at the Paris Olympics.

Collier’s accolades extend beyond this competition. He is recognized as the vice-national champion in kayak cross, having risen to a world ranking of No. 32 in this challenging discipline. Additionally, he holds titles as the Oceania and New Zealand under-23 champion in canoe slalom. His performance at the whitewater world championship saw him finish in 10th place, further solidifying his status in the sport.

As Collier continues to train and compete, his achievements reflect a promising trajectory in paddling, placing him among the elite athletes in the discipline.