Cameron Smedley

Biography

Cameron Smedley made his Olympic debut at Rio 2016 where he missed advancing to the C-1 semifinal by just one spot, finishing 15th. He achieved a career highlight at the 2019 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships where he advanced to the C-1 finals and finished ninth, clinching an Olympic spot for Canada in the event. He went on to finish fifth at the Tokyo 2020 test event. In his second Olympic appearance, Smedley also came up one spot shy of advancing to the C-1 semifinal. 

Smedley was named to his first national junior team in 2005. He made his first impact on the international scene at the 2007 Pre-World Junior Championships by winning a silver in the team race. The following year he made Canadian history, becoming the first men’s C-1 paddler to finish in the top ten at the ICF World Junior Championships. He then transitioned to the senior national team, going on to win national titles in both the C-1 and C-2 events. 

Smedley achieved a couple of career highlights in 2013 when he finished 12th in the C-1 at the U-23 world championships and 27th in the C-1 at the senior world championships. He teamed with Ben Hayward for a 33rd place finish in the C-2 at the 2014 World Championships. In 2015 he won C-1 silver at the Pan Am Games in Toronto, finished 29th at the world championships and went on to place third at the official Rio 2016 test event.

A Little More About Cam

Getting into the Sport: Started competing in canoe slalom at age 13… Had grown up taking canoe/kayak trips with his family… Outside Interests: Attended Carleton University for a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering… Enjoys skiing, rock climbing…Odds and Ends: Always travels with his titanium spork and MSR camping bowl as well as an AeroPress coffee maker… Nickname: Gary… Younger brother Liam was also a member of the national canoe slalom team…