10 Facts About Tim Brabants

Jules Timothy Brabants MBE was born on 23 January 1977 and is a British sprint kayaker who has competed since the late 1990s.

Tim Brabants first began his canoeing career at Elmbridge Canoe Club in Elmbridge.

Tim Brabants trained at Royal Canoe Club, the world's oldest canoe club located in Teddington, London.

Tim Brabants took a year off from competitive kayaking in 2005 to complete his medical studies at the University of Nottingham followed by a spell as a doctor in Jersey.

Brabants competed in the K-1 500 m discipline as well and at the European Championships won Silver for the 1000 m and Gold for the 500 m At the 2007 World Championships in Duisburg, Brabants won gold in the K-1 1000 m and silver in the K-1 500 m events, thus securing a place for Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

At these games Tim Brabants made his way into the history books by being the first Briton to win a gold medal in either the sprint or slalom kayak discipline.

Tim Brabants won a silver medal at the 1998 World Canoe Marathon Championships in Cape Town, South Africa.

Tim Brabants is a member of the Nottingham Kayak Club and is a physician by profession.

Tim Brabants was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2009 New Year Honours for services to sport.

Tim Brabants was selected for the canoe sprint team for London Olympics 2012, where he finished 8th.