Kimberley Woods (born 8 September 1995) is a British slalom canoeist who has competed in C1, K1 and KX1 at the international level since 2011.[1] A six time world and eight time European champion, she won the bronze medal in both the K1 event and the first ever women's kayak-cross (KX1) event in Paris at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Woods was born in 1995, one of four children living in Rugby. Aged four she watched her aunt Diane, who was a silver medallist at the 1994 World Junior canoeing Championships,[2] and was helped by her grandparents to get her own canoe. She was bullied as a child because of her physique and used canoeing as an escape from this.[3]She won three medals at the world junior competitions but was forced to stop canoeing because of an injury and turned to self-harming.[3]
In 2013 she attended Rugby College and later, the University of Hertfordshire.[4]
Woods has been open about how she has struggled with mental health issues throughout her life. On two occasions she has checked into a private mental health hospital, and has stated how she experienced suicidal thoughts.[2]
Woods has won 13 medals at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships with six golds (Kayak cross: 2023; C1 team: 2017, 2018, 2023; K1 team: 2019, 2021), three silvers (C1: 2023; Kayak cross: 2022; K1 team: 2015) and four bronzes (K1: 2021; C1 team: 2022; K1 team: 2018, 2023).[5]
She has also won 14 medals (eight golds, three silvers and three bronzes) at the European Championships, including a silver in the C1 team event at the 2023 European Games in Kraków.
Woods won the overall World Cup title in Kayak cross in 2023 and 2024.[6]
She qualified to represent Great Britain at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo in the Women's K1 event[7] where she finished in 10th place.[3]
In 2024 she returned to Olympic kayak competition, in Paris[8] winning a bronze medal in the women's slalom K–1.[9]
