Paris 2024 Olympians have taken part in a Big Paddle Cleanup event near their training base at Lee Valley White Water Centre.
Kimberley Woods, Adam Burgess and Mallory Franklin, joined a team of volunteers to help collect rubbish from the River Lee Navigation.
Thousands of volunteers are taking part in the Big Paddle Cleanup, which runs until 8 June, to clear our blue spaces of junk.
They collected 10 sacks of rubbish as well as a dumped bicycle, bits of fiberglass and even animal skull and shoulder blade.
Adam Burgess, who won Olympic silver in Paris, said:
“It’s been nice to get out on the water and do something different, give a little bit back to the waterways.
“It’s only right that we’re here to give something back. All volunteers taking part in the [Big Paddle Cleanup] are doing great work to clean up our waterways.”
Mallory Franklin, who won silver at Tokyo 2020, said:
“[The Big Paddle Cleanup] is really important for many reasons, for the ecosystem and keeping the rivers accessible, clean and healthy.
“The volunteers are really impressive. Seeing so many people come along to try and help is really cool and the fact it happens across the country is pretty epic.”
Ben Wilson, Sport England’s Executive Director of Digital, Marketing and Communications, said:
“[The Big Paddle Cleanup] is a brilliant and pioneering initiative. Paddle UK are remodeling good sustainability, you have a brilliant strategy, and are passionate about it.
“Paddlers have a deep connection to the environment and nature.
“You can see the link between participation and sustainability, making sure we keep our waterways clear.”
