Canoe slalom is becoming a family affair for athletes preparing for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. From Australian brothers Kaylen and Lachlan Bassett to siblings representing Senegal, Slovenia, France and the United States, several families share a passion for the demanding water sport.
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However, for some competitors, family support comes with an unusual challenge: competing against a sibling for the opportunity to represent their country at the Olympics. The Bassett brothers are among those facing that situation. Both compete in the same category for Australia, meaning only one can secure the Olympic selection spot for LA28.
Despite the competition, they continue to support each other and believe the strongest performance should determine who earns the opportunity. Their story reflects a wider connection between family relationships and canoe slalom, where siblings often share training experiences, competitive ambitions and an understanding of the demands of international racing.
Australian Brothers Kaylen and Lachlan Bassett Chase the Same Olympic Goal
Kaylen Bassett, 29, and his younger brother Lachlan, 26, have spent more than a decade competing in canoe slalom. Their introduction to the sport came through a school programme that required them to travel from their hometown of Melbourne to Sydney.
What began as a school activity eventually became a shared family passion? Both brothers continued pursuing the sport, developing their competitive careers while working towards the opportunity to represent Australia at the Olympic Games. They can share experiences, discuss performances and encourage each other through the difficult moments of their careers.
Their family remains closely connected to their sporting journey. At the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Oklahoma City, their mother attended as a referee, although their father could not make the journey across the Pacific.
The brothers understand that their Olympic ambitions place them in direct competition for the same Australian selection opportunity. Nevertheless, they maintain a strong relationship and want the best-performing paddler to earn the place. For Kaylen and Lachlan, having a sibling who understands the pressures of elite competition also provides valuable support.
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Fox Sisters and Slovenian Siblings Continue Their Family Sporting Traditions
The Bassett brothers are not the only Australian family involved in canoe slalom. Olympic medalists Jessica Fox and Noemie Fox are also sisters who compete in the sport, adding another example of the connection between family and Australian paddling. Slovenia has its own family connection through Eva and Ziga Hocevar, who have followed the sporting path of their father, Simon Hocevar.
France also has multiple family members involved in canoe slalom. Marjorie, Anatole and Doriane share an interest in the discipline, demonstrating how the sport can bring several members of the same family into competitive paddling. These relationships highlight the different ways athletes become involved in canoe slalom.
Some siblings discover the sport together, while others follow the example of parents who have already developed a connection with paddling. Bourhis Brothers Represent Senegal After Discovering Canoe Slalom in France. Jean Pierre and Yves Bourhis provide another example of siblings building an international sporting career together.
The brothers represent Senegal despite beginning their canoe slalom journeys at a local canoe club in northwestern France. Jean Pierre first started paddling at the age of 10, while Yves began when he was six. Their father introduced them to the activity because he knew they enjoyed spending time in the water and wanted an active sport.
Family Support and Sibling Collaboration Strengthen Their Canoe Slalom Journey
Both brothers continued competing and eventually represented their parents’ home country of Senegal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Their father remains closely involved in their sporting journeys. He attended the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Oklahoma City, where he followed their performances and recorded video clips.
The brothers were without a coach at the event, making their father’s observations particularly useful to them. Although Jean Pierre and Yves do not live in the same place, they continue to help each other improve. They exchange technical advice, watch each other’s performances and share feedback whenever their schedules allow.
Having someone who understands the sport can provide another perspective on racing and preparation. Canoe slalom is primarily a race against the water and the clock. Unlike competitions where athletes directly compete against an opponent throughout the race, paddlers concentrate on navigating the course and producing the fastest possible performance.
This format allows siblings to maintain a supportive relationship despite competing in the same events or pursuing similar national team ambitions. Training together can also create opportunities to exchange ideas and assess performances. Siblings who understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses can offer feedback that comes from shared experience.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who are the Bassett brothers in Olympic canoe slalom?
Kaylen and Lachlan Bassett are Australian canoe slalom athletes aged 29 and 26. They have competed in the sport for more than a decade and are both working towards an opportunity to represent Australia at LA28.
Q. Can both Kaylen and Lachlan Bassett compete for Australia at LA28?
The brothers compete in the same category, where only one can secure the Australian Olympic selection spot. This means they are pursuing the same opportunity despite supporting each other’s performances.
Q. Which Olympic canoe slalom athletes are siblings?
Several families have siblings involved in canoe slalom. These include Kaylen and Lachlan Bassett of Australia, Jessica and Noemie Fox of Australia, Jean Pierre and Yves Bourhis of Senegal, Eva and Ziga Hocevar of Slovenia, and Isabella and Marcella Altman of the United States.
Q. Which country do the Bourhis brothers represent?
Jean Pierre and Yves Bourhis represent Senegal. They started canoe slalom at a local club in northwestern France and competed for Senegal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Q. What is the family connection of the Altman sisters to Olympic canoe slalom?
Isabella and Marcella Altman are American sisters who compete in kayak cross. Their cousin, Étienne Daille, previously represented France at the 2012 Olympic Games.
Q. Why do siblings support each other in canoe slalom?
Canoe slalom is primarily a timed competition against the water. Although siblings may compete for national team places, they can still share technical advice, discuss performances and support one another throughout their sporting careers.