Dylan LITTLEHALES (AUS)

Classification
KL3

Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency (paralympic.org, 12 Sep 2015)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (paralympic.org, 12 Sep 2015)

Impairment Details
He is missing crucial ligaments in his right knee, as well as some of the bones in his right leg. The limb also grew much slower than his left as he got older. He has undergone about 20 operations on the condition. (goldcoastbulletin.com.au, 16 Jun 2016; paralympic.org, 12 Sep 2015)

A lover of surfing and football, Littlehales has studied psychology at the University of Newcastle, Australia. He started to paddle in 2014 thanks to his uncle Mike Druce, who has worked with the Australian Canoe Slalom team. At his third Paralympic appearance, he won silver in the KL3 200m at Paris 2024. A fan of Steven Gerrard, he paddled for more than 100km in the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic to fundraise for Cancer Council Australia after his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

Wamberal, NSW

He was introduced to Para canoe by his uncle Mike Druce, who has worked as Australian canoe slalom head coach. "I picked up the sport at the perfect time, because right after I started a new canoe club started about 20 minutes away from me. They had a bunch of boats and paddles, and then I got my own stuff eventually." 

Surfing, football

Avoca Kayak Club [Australia]

Andrea King [national] 

He trains on the water six days a week, and also has three gym sessions.

Being selected for the Australian national team in 2015

Australian paddlers Lachlan Tame and Rob McIntyre

"There's no way around hard work because if you want to be the best, you have to work harder and smarter than anyone else."

To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo

KL3

Paralympics: Silver - 1; World Championships: Gold - 1, Silver - 1, Bronze -1.

His uncle Mike Druce has worked as a coach for the Australian canoe slalom team