The World Cup final in La Seu d'Urgell, Catalonia, marked the official start of Olympic qualification for wildwater slalom and assembled the sport’s global elite.
Among them, paddling at the Olympic channel built for the 1992 Barcelona Games, was Luxembourg’s own Gaël Ettwiller.
Ettwiller described the season as particularly demanding, noting the difficulty of the courses and the high level of competition.
Facing Olympic athletes and recent World Championship medallists at every World Cup stop, he acknowledged that joining the international elite as a newcomer has been a challenging but valuable experience.z
At 1.70 metres and 65kg, the 22-year-old is light by elite standards, which can work in his favour in slalom boats weighing just 9kg.
His lighter build allows him to stay on top of the water, and he highlighted the importance of being explosive and technically efficient to maintain speed through the gates and downstream.
In Spain, however, the tough course proved too much on this occasion. Missing a gate cost Ettwiller precious seconds, and he ultimately finished seventy-fourth, well outside the top thirty required for a semi-final place.
Ettwiller’s introduction to the sport came early, as his parents took him onto the river as a child. Through his club in Sélestat, near Strasbourg, he discovered the close-knit community of slalom canoeing.
Now a sports student in Metz, he officially acquired Luxembourgish nationality through his parents several years ago.
Since the 2024 Paris Olympics, boatercross – where four athletes race directly against each other–has been added to the Olympic programme.
Competing in the time-trial qualifier, Ettwiller was not quite fast enough to make the final thirty-two. He sees potential for improvement, especially in this new event, and is still adapting to its physical demands.
Following his first experiences at the top level, Ettwiller is eager for more. With growing experience, he hopes to progress further in international competition and continues to dream of an Olympic appearance, potentially with his best opportunity coming in 2032.
