Dylan Littlehales

Dylan Littlehales (born 2 November 1999) is an Australian paracanoeist. He competed for Australia at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.[1][2]

Dylan Littlehales
Photo of Dylan Littlehales from the 2020 Australian Paralympic Team media guide
Personal information
Nationality Australia
Born (1999-11-02) 2 November 1999
Sport
ClubAvoca Kayak Club
Medal record
Men's paracanoeing
Representing  Australia
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2023 DuisburgKL3
Bronze medal – third place2022 DartmouthKL3

Personal

Littlehales was born on 2 November 1999.[3] At birth, his right leg had a deficiency with it missing some crucial ligaments and bones.[3] He has undergone 20 operations to improve the outcome but still has poor mobility and strength in the right leg.[3] He attended Kariong Mountains High School.[4] In 2021, He is undertaking a Bachelor of Science majoring in Psychology at the University of Newcastle.[5] He lives in Kariong, New South Wales.

Canoeing

He is classified as KL3 paracanoeist. His uncle Mike Druce, Australian slalom coach, introduced him to paracanoeing at the age of fourteen. He said: "I picked up the sport at the perfect time, because right after I started a new canoe club started about 20 minutes away from me. They had a bunch of boats and paddles, and then I got my own stuff eventually. It is difficult to be able to stay in the boat at first, just to sit fine in it can be a pretty physical thing. After learning that, it is more of a mental thing and building up physical strength."[6]

At the 2015 Australian Championships in Sydney, he finished second in the Men's K1 200 LTA and third in the Men's K1 500 and 1000 LTA events.[4] As a fifteen year old, he competed at the 2015 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, Milan.[4] He was the youngest competitor by three years. He finished eight in the Men's KL3 200m B Final.[6][4]

In 2016, he was the gold medallist at the Australian Championships in Perth, Western Australia and Oceania Championships in the Men's 200 m KL3.[4] At the 2016 ICF Paracanoe World Championships in Duisburg, Germany, he finished second in the Men's 200 m KL3 B Final. This qualified Australia a 2016 Rio Paralympics quota spot.[7] At the Rio Paralympics, at the age of seventeen, he finished sixth in the Men's KL3 semi-final and did not qualify for the final.[1]

In November 2016, he was awarded Australian Canoeing Junior Canoeist of the Year.[8]

At the 2017 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, Račice, Czech Republic, he finished fifth in the Men's KL3 200m.[9] At the 2018 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal, he again finished fifth in the Men's KL3 200m.

At the 2019 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, Szeged, Hungary, he finished fourth in the Men's KL3 200m.[10]

At the 2020 Summer Paralympics, Littlehales finished fourth in the Men's Men's KL3 200m.[11] He came second in his Heat and won his Semi-Final. He could not better his Semi-Final time of 40.234. If he had he would have won the Gold medal.[12]

Littlehales won his first international medal by winning the bronze medal in the Men's KL3 200m at the 2022 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships.[13]

Littlehales is coached by Paul Hutchinson, David Birt and Shaun Caven and is a member of the Avoca Kayak Club.[4][3] He models his kayaking technique on two Australian kayakers - Lachlan Tame and Rob McIntyre.[4]

He also swims for the Gosford Stingrays Swim Club.[14]

Recognition
  • 2015 - Central Coast Young Achiever.[15]
  • 2017 - Australian Canoeing Junior Canoeist of the Year - Olympic/Paralympic [16]

References
  1. "Dylan Littlehales". Rio Paralympics Official site. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  2. "World Champions headline first Australian Paralympic Canoe Team". Australian Paralympic Committee News, 16 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  3. "Dylan Littlehales". Australian Paralympic Committee website. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  4. "Dylan Littlehales". Australian Canoeing website. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  5. "Dyalan Littlehales". Paddle Australia. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  6. "Faces of the future: Australia's Dylan Littlehales". International Paralympic Committee website. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  7. "/ McGrath wins double gold as Australia locks up two more Paralympic berths". Australian Paralympic Committee website. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  8. "2016 Australian Canoeing Award Winners". Australian Canoeing website. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  9. "Results 2017 World Championships". International Canoe Federation website. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  10. "Australia Finishes Success World Champs With More Tickets To Tokyo". Paddle Australia website. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  11. "Australia Names Experienced Para-Canoe Squad For Tokyo". Paralympics Australia. 5 June 2021. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  12. "Australian Paralympic Team for Tokyo 2021". The Roar. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  13. "Bronze Medal For Littlehales At ICF Paracanoe World Championships". Paddle Australia. 6 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  14. "Dylan Littlehales". MySwimResults website. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  15. Herd, Emma (18 February 2016). "Macy Callaghan and Dylan Littlehales are our Junior Sports Stars". Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  16. "Fox and Mcgrath win top gongs at Australian canoeing awards". Canoeing Australia website. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
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