Sunshine Coast athlete Alyssa Bull says she is a much different paddler than when she made a rapid transition from ironwoman star to “overwhelmed” Olympic kayaker five years ago.
The Alexandra Headland 25-year-old is poised to compete in the Tokyo Games this week, in the K1 500 and alongside fellow Sunshine Coaster Alyce Wood in the K2 500.
They hope to improve on their eighth placing from 2016 and there’s every indication they will.
“We haven’t missed a (training) session so we’re pretty excited and I’m very happy every time I get to sit in the K2.”
Bull was a bright young star on the surf lifesaving scene, when she made the change to kayaking.
The Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club member won a round of the Ironwoman Series as an 18-year-old in 2013 and was in the nation’s top 12 for two seasons, before she decided to call it quits and take up kayaking in earnest.
It didn’t take long for her to make an impression on the flat water, earning a spot in the national team.
Her combination with Wood flourished and they were a shock inclusion for Rio, where they made the final.
Bull said it all happened so fast, and she’s since developed as an athlete.
“I only started paddling in 2013 and it was a quick turnaround,” she said.
“To be in the senior team in 2015, trying to qualify Olympic spots for Australia, was a bit of a shock itself.
“Then to find myself on that 2016 team was overwhelming and, in a way, maybe I wasn’t quite ready for it.
“But it was definitely a great experience and I learned so much.
“I’ve learned a lot more during the past five years, so I’m really excited for Tokyo.
“I’m definitely a different athlete to what I was five years ago.”
While Bull is eagerly anticipating the K2 500 competition, she admitted she wasn’t as enthusiastic about the K1 500 races.
“I have less excited feelings sitting in the K1, racing next to Alyce, because she’s flying at the moment,” she said.
“But I hope I’m doing my best to keep pushing her and hopefully at the end of the day we can push each other on that course in Tokyo and who knows where might end up.”
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The events will be held in Tokyo Bay.
“It can get pretty windy out there, and there’s some talk that it’s going to be a tail-cross wind but when we raced there 2019 it was head-cross,” she said.
“At the end of the day it is an outdoor sport and Mother Nature can do whatever she decides, so we have trained in all conditions and are ready to accept whatever we get thrown on the day.”
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Bull and Wood haven’t competed on the international stage for almost two years, due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“I’m just that excited to race again, and to race with my best mate and for Australia,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to putting some good races together and to cheer AB on.
“We’ll push each other down the course and try and get Australia the best result we can.”
Bull still keeps one foot in surf lifesaving. She competes when time permits, and she won the Australian ski title in 2019.
Alyssa Bull’s schedule
- Monday, August 2: Women’s K2 500m heats, from 12.08pm.
- Tuesday, August 3: Women’s K2 500m semi-final, from 11.23pm.
- Tuesday, August 3: Women’s K2 500m final, from 1.39pm.
- Wednesday, August 4: Women’s K1 500m heats, from 11.40pm.
- Wednesday, August 4: Women’s K1 500m quarter finals, from 1.50pm.
- Thursday, August 5, Women’s K1 500m, semi-finals from 10.58am.
- Thursday, August 5, Women’s K1 500m final, from 1.15pm.
