New Zealand’s most successful male Canoe Slalom and Kayak Cross athlete, Finn Butcher represented his country at the Paris 2024 Olympic games and won Gold in the inaugural Kayak Cross event.

Hailing from the small town of Alexandra, Central Otago, Finn was introduced to the sport of kayaking through family friends, and a love of the water began. A community focussed on the love of the sport and adventure fostered a diverse approach to kayaking, but it was the thrill of competing that really drew him in.

Moving through the New Zealand ranks, Finn began to represent New Zealand in 2012 and went on to begin to make waves when in 2018 he placed 4th at the U23 World Championships, narrowly missing the podium. His breakthrough came in 2021 where he became the vice senior world champion in the Kayak Cross event. Building through the Olympic Cycle with multiple World Cup finals and medals in both Kayak Cross and Canoe Slalom, Finn won selection to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the process to achieving a dream had been set in motion.