Malvern kayaker Emily Lewis has bowed out of the Olympics after a nail-biting quarter-final in the women’s 500m sprint.

Lewis, 28, is a former Chase School pupil and current member of Worcester Canoe Club having joined aged 12 when she was introduced by a friend.

Sue Hawthorn, a coach at WCC for over 40 years, has seen Lewis develop into the athlete she is today, and it was her daughter who first introduced Lewis to the sport.

Lewis’ success came as no surprise to Mrs Hawthorn, she said: “She stood out from the moment she got in a boat.

“She was strong and confident from the start.

“She only fell in the water when she headed for some nettles in nettles on her first day.

"Emily also did gymnastics and skiing. She was a natural sportswoman"

She added: “As a teenager Emily coached some of the club’s juniors. Now those juniors have become coaches themselves and are training the next generation.”

Malvern Gazette: Lewis (at the rear of boat 24) was described as a "natural" by her former coachLewis (at the rear of boat 24) was described as a "natural" by her former coach

Lewis was also eliminated in the quarter-final stage of the 200m sprint but finished both events as the fastest participant not to qualify, finishing the 500m event with a time of 1:51:996.

Despite missing out, everyone at the club is proud of their star and Mrs Hawthorn believes WCC has been key to Lewis’ success.

She said: “Everyone in the club has played a part however small or large in making an athlete of Emily’s standard.

“In her teens Emily had a club that we like to think made her want to turn up, train, race and have fun on and off the water and that is where it all started.”

She added: “No canoeist will get to that level without an association with a club. Clubs generate the athletes that become part of Team Great Britain. She wouldn’t be where she is now without this club.”

Malvern Gazette: Lewis (in the sunglasses) has been with the club since she was 12Lewis (in the sunglasses) has been with the club since she was 12

Mrs Hawthorn added that the mix of the pandemic and the Olympic spirit has seen a huge spike in interest in the sport.

She said: “It is the same in all sports. People have been at home so are now looking for anything to do.

“The trouble is people get inspired by the Olympics and join us in September when it’s starting to get cold and dark, so the challenge for us is getting them back in Easter.”