Luuka Jones

Canoe slalom athlete Luuka Jones will be competing in her fourth Olympic Games at Tokyo 2020.

The Tauranga born paddler won a historic silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Jones qualified seventh for the K1-final, finishing with a stunning run down the 24-gate 242m course in a time of 101.28s. It was New Zealand's first ever Olympic medal in canoe slalom.

At Tokyo 2020 Jones will compete in both the K1 and C1 disciplines. She became New Zealand's first female canoe slalom Olympian at the Beijing Games in 2008, where she placed 21st. She also competed at the London 2012 Olympic Games where she placed 14th.

Jones has continued to impress post Rio and in 2019 finished second at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Slovakia.

She is coached by former British paddler Campbell Walsh. Away from canoe slalom, Luuka loves all water sports and most outdoor pursuits.