In the fifth of our big interviews with the 2025 International Canoe Federation Canoe Federation World Cup Series winners, we spoke with men’s overall kayak cross individual champion Sam Leaver of Great Britain.
Whether he was behind the camera holding a microphone or in a kayak cross boat gripping a paddle, Sam Leaver demonstrated his burgeoning talent in 2025.
Before this season, Leaver had never had experience of sports commentary nor at interviewing athletes while the camera was rolling.
He had also never competed in a full International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom
World Cup Series until this year.
But Leaver has risen to the task, showing his abilities on the mic and on the water.
The 21-year-old has proven to be a terrific interviewer.
Positioned in the Kiss and Cry, Leaver has been on hand to capture the thoughts and emotions of slalom athletes coming straight off the water as part of the Planet Canoe YouTube coverage in 2025.
“It’s been really great for me and something to add excitement to the season and add to my life,” said Leaver.
“It throws in another component which is really nice because when you are in sport it’s hard not to be just consumed by it.
“I couldn’t have enjoyed the media work more and I am really glad it came around.
“It made me feel more comfortable and settled knowing that there is a little bit more going on outside of canoeing which is exciting.”
Leaver has also stepped in to do commentary where he’s channelled his favourite football and rugby commentators and pundits to deliver insight during the slalom races.
It’s been a busy period, but Leaver has relished the opportunity.
“I didn’t have any experience with this stuff before, but I do watch other sports like football and rugby,” said Leaver.
“A strength of mine is that I can learn things quite fast.
“When I heard the commentary gig was coming around and the same with interviewing and the social media stuff, I paid attention to other sports.
“I was looking at some of the commentators that I listen to and thinking why I like certain people and try to apply that myself.
“I also watched YouTube videos of people doing interviews and was looking at what makes a good person so good and put my own spin on things.”
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Alongside all his media duties, Leaver has taken the kayak cross season by storm.
Leaver became the first-ever winner of the men’s kayak cross individual overall crown in the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Series.
His phenomenal debut season exceeded his expectations as he asserted his authority in a race that featured as a medal event for the first time.
“Last year, I got my first taste of senior racing in Ivrea, and I picked up a bronze medal there which I was quite excited about,” said Leaver.
“Ironically, I struggled quite a bit with the time trial and the head-to-head felt like my game.
“It was a big area for me to improve over the winter.
“Lo and behold come the senior season, the time trial ended up being my strong point in the World Cup Series.
“I really didn’t expect to be at this point.
“Funnily enough when the time trial got announced as a World Cup event with an overall prize for it at the end of it, Campbell Walsh, my coach, put in the group chat ‘@JoeClarke, this is a really good event for you there to possibly take a medal.
“Ryan Westley, who is also in our training group, posted ‘What about Sam, the poor lad’.
“Campbell said ‘Well maybe he can have the head-to-head’.”
Ryan Westley was right to mention Leaver as a contender for the kayak cross individual crown as the Scottish paddler has been a consistent performer this year.
Leaver clinched silver in Pau, bronze in Tacen and silver in Augsburg to seal the overall title.
“I feel like I have got quite a good understanding of the upstream gates, just how to position myself on the edge of the gate with an extended arm to gain some time there,” said Leaver.
“I feel like my upstream technique is pretty consistent and therefore it really gives me a strong platform to just blast my way down the rest of the course.
“The upstream gates tend to be the most important part.
“Campbell has also showed me a few keys moments in runs, like making a little difference to my line for a downstream gate or making a difference to my stroke pattern that makes up for 0.1 or 0.2 seconds, that’s tiny but that’s often what the time trial is separated by between getting a medal and not.”
As well as securing the overall crown in kayak cross individual in Augsburg, Leaver also captured his first World Cup title.
Leaver swept to victory in the men’s kayak cross at the World Cup Final.
“That was massive as the head-to-head had plagued me a little bit since the European Championships at the start of the season,” said Leaver.
“I got a bronze medal there so I couldn’t have got a better start to the season but then I got knocked out of the quarter finals of ever World Cup after that.
“Coming to the back end of the season, I changed my focus a little bit. I went back to what I know I am good at and what has got me the medals in the past.
“I got into the final in Tacen, coming fourth, and then came first in Augsburg which was a massive moment and was the best day of my season.
“I have learned a lot this season and found some success at the end.
“I said at the start of the year that if I experience a lot of different things in my first season I’ll be happy.
“Any success would be a massive bonus so taking a win in the final World Cup was a huge bonus.”
Leaver was unable to pick up a medal at the ICF Slalom World Championships in Sydney, finishing 16th in the kayak cross individual and exiting the kayak cross at the quarter-final stage.
But Leaver insisted he was content with his performance in Australia after enjoying a fantastic World Cup season.
Next year, Leaver is also aiming to deliver success in slalom as he eyes a place on the British team.
“My intention is on slalom,” added Leaver.
“It was always in the background last season when I was doing my kayak cross.
“I was always writing in a journal some ideas for slalom and how to progress in the winter.
“I feel I am close as I have had a few moments where I have shown that I am capable of being there at the end.
“At the ICF World Ranking Race in Pau at the start of the year, I won at senior level against some of the people that are at those World Cups.
“It’s my top priority for next season to get into the senior team for slalom and establish myself as a double class athlete across kayak cross and slalom before the LA Olympics come around.”
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