12 Facts About Luuka Jones

Luuka Jones was born on 18 October 1988 and is a New Zealand slalom canoeist who has competed at the international level since 2006.

Luuka Jones's mother Denise Jones was a fan of the British actress Audrey Hepburn and Luuka Jones was named after Hepburn's second son, Luca Dotti.

Luuka Jones's father is Rod Jones and she has three sisters.

Luuka Jones was brought up adjacent to the Wairoa River.

Luuka Jones took up kayaking at age ten and received lessons from Waimarino Adventure Park nearby.

Luuka Jones went to Otumoetai Intermediate where in Year Seven, she set her goal to win an Olympic medal.

Luuka Jones was the first female canoe slalom paddler to represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games.

Luuka Jones competed in the K1 event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics where she finished last in 21st position, thus being eliminated in the heats.

Luuka Jones finished 6th in the final of the K1 event and 13th in the C1 event after being eliminated in the semifinal.

Luuka Jones won a bronze medal in the K1 event at the 2019 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in La Seu d'Urgell.

Luuka Jones moved to England at age 17 to further her canoe career and divides her time between Nottingham and New Zealand, spending the Northern Hemisphere summer based in Europe where most of the competitions are held.

Apart from canoe, Luuka Jones enjoys surfing, mountain biking and making sushi.