“This sport has been a key part of my identity and growth for the past 7 years I’ve been doing it. I have been so fortunate to have such amazing people around me and supporting me along my journey to shape who I am and who I want to become.”
Orlando has had an incredible year, winning both the 2025 Paddle WA Junior Paddler of the Year and Paddle Australia’s Junior Paddler of the Year and we could not be prouder!
From a kid who hopped into a plastic kayak at a local festival to a sprint hopeful with Brisbane 2032 set firmly in his sights, meet Orlando, a driven West Aussie paddler whose love of the river, regattas, and community keeps him chasing personal bests.
We caught up with Orlando to find out just how he became Australia’s most awarded Junior Paddler for 2025!
What is your ultimate paddling dream?
My biggest dream is to become an Olympian in sprint kayaking, Brisbane 2032 is the ultimate goal
Why did you take up paddling?
When I was 8, I went to a festival at Garvey Park in Ascot. Ascot Kayak Club had an activity for the festival where you could give kayaking a go. I jumped in a plastic kayak just to see what it would be like and ended up really liking it and enjoying myself. After that I joined the junior APS course at Ascot and just kept progressing from there.
What do you enjoy the most about Paddling Your discipline?
The atmosphere and people down at training. I like being pushed to keep achieving better personal bests and just being out on the river. I also love the sprint regattas, the energy at GPs and Nationals is the highlight of my year.
What have been the benefits you have experienced from paddling?
It has greatly increased and improved my overall fitness for the many years I have done it, it’s helped me become disciplined and committed since several early morning sessions require resilience and sacrifice. I’ve been able to travel across the country and even internationally thanks to the sport, letting me see and experience so many new things.
Are there any difficulties you have faced in chasing your dream?
Moving from a guppy into a K1 at 12 was insanely hard, it felt like learning to walk again, and I fell in a lot. I was too young for the sprint squad but too old for the junior course, so I was really lucky to have Luke Eggar coach me one-on-one for almost a year and teach me the fundamentals of being in a K1. Jeremy Alderson then gave me a shot by letting me into the sprint squad at 12½, even though I was at the back of the pack for a while. They’ve both had a huge impact on my paddling.
“Don’t be turned away by the early mornings or the initial difficulty of staying balanced, kayaking is an incredible sport and will figuratively and literally take you places.”
Tell us about your experience paddling in WA?
I started as a guppy at Ascot and worked my way up through the squads, then made the WASPs, and now paddle at Bayswater. WA has been a great place to grow as a paddler with great coaches and squads.
What is your advice to someone who wants to take up paddling?
Don’t be turned away by the early mornings or the initial difficulty of staying balanced, kayaking is an incredible sport and will figuratively and literally take you places.
This sport has been a key part of my identity and growth for the past 7 years I’ve been doing it. I have been so fortunate to have such amazing people around me and supporting me along my journey to shape who I am and who I want to become.
Fast Facts: Orlando Fonseca
At the WA State Sprint Championships, Orlando achieved:
- Gold – K1 500m
- Gold – K1 200m
- Silver – K1 1000m
On the national stage, his performances were just as strong:
- Grand Prix 1 – Adelaide: 1st in all K2 events; 3rd in K1 200m & 500m; 4th in K1 1000m
- Grand Prix 2 – Penrith: 1st in all K2 events; 2nd in K1 200m & 500m; 5th in K1 1000m
- Australian Canoe Sprint Championships: Gold in K2 200m & 500m, Silver in K2 1000m, Silver in K1 200m & 500m, Bronze in K1 1000m
These results earned him a place on the Australian Junior Team for the Asia Pacific Canoe Sprint Championships in Komatsu, Japan, a huge accomplishment as the youngest male selected. There, he excelled once again, medalling in every race he entered:
- Gold – K2 500m
- Gold – K4 500m
- Silver – K1 500m
- Bronze – Mixed 200m Relay
Orlando is also a standout in marathon paddling, currently holding the titles of:
- National U16 K1 Marathon Champion
- National U16 K2 Marathon Champion
- Coulthart Trophy winner for Best U16 Male Paddler
- WA U16 Male Sprint Paddler of the Year (2024/25)
- WA U16 Male Marathon Paddler of the Year (2024/25)
From all of us, congratulations Orlando! your dedication, resilience, and passion for paddling have made you a standout athlete and an inspiration to the entire paddling community. We can’t wait to see what you achieve next on your journey to Brisbane 2032!
Inspired?
If Orlando’s story has you keen to get on the water, there’s no better time to begin. Local clubs near you offer beginner programs, junior pathways, and supportive communities to help you find your balance, and your passion. We also have our new Paddle Squad junior program starting soon so there’s never been a better time to come out and try paddling!