Cabrera inspired to reach golden heights after Commonwealth Games

British canoeing prodigy Benji Cabrera is a man on a mission, after revealing his seismic ambitions for gold medal success, having been inspired by the Commonwealth Games, writes Chris Byfield.

The 22nd Commonwealth Games are currently taking place, with more than five thousand athletes, representing 72 nations and territories, having gathered in Birmingham to compete for gold.

While canoeing is not included in the Games, Truro star Cabrera declared that he had been “inspired” by the 11-day showpiece event.

“Everyone at this sort of time of year is training for the Commonwealth Games so to know that all the best in the world are there giving it their all - I do find it really inspiring,” said the 18-year-old, who is a member of Aldi’s Rising Stars, a programme that supports 20 young athletes by providing a financial award to help with training and competition costs, while also delivering personal development opportunities to many athletes through workshop sessions.

“I managed to get access to a lake, and I am hitting that race speed. I am seeing every part of my training come together like a jigsaw puzzle. It is almost there.”

Each year, athletes are nominated to SportsAid by the national governing bodies of more than 60 sports, based on set criteria.

The Rising Stars athletes will be receiving financial support through Aldi as well as a monthly food voucher, to fuel them through training, competitions and to future Olympic and Paralympic Games.

For Cabrera, the goal is to compete for Team GB at the Olympics, and it is an ambition that is tangible.

After coming through at Fowey River Canoe Club, Cabrera finished first at the British Open National Championships in the Under-18 K4 5k, while he was ninth in the under 18 category at the Marathon World Championships.

He said: “The ultimate dream for any athlete is to go to the Olympics and I really want to do that.

“I used to watch the Olympics before I got into fitness and sport and even then, I would watch it and feel like I was in the Games.

“When I watch the Olympics it is a whole different thing than watching football on the tv - it’s four years of hard work going into five or ten minutes of sporting activities.

“Just watching other people make their dreams come true, and a lot of the time people come from relatively little - it just shows that if you put your mind to it and if you dedicate so much to it it’s doable.”

In the short-term Cabrera is due to study product design at the University of Nottingham.

However, the young athlete trains six days a week and has set his sights far beyond the lecture hall.

He said: “In five years’ time I see myself going to a World Championships, in the 500k team and just smashing it, and hopefully making a final, top five maybe? Even a medal?”

British canoeing prodigy Benji Cabrera is a man on a mission, after revealing his seismic ambitions for gold medal success, having being inspired by the Commonwealth Games.

The 22nd Commonwealth Games are currently taking place, with more than five thousand athletes, representing 72 nations and territories, having gathered in Birmingham to compete for gold.

While canoeing is not included in the Games, Truro star Cabrera declared that he had been “inspired” by the 11-day showpiece event.

“Everyone at this sort of time of year is training for the Commonwealth Games so to know that all the best in the world are there giving it their all - I do find it really inspiring,” said the 18-year-old, who is a member of Aldi’s Rising Stars, a programme that supports 20 young athletes by providing a financial award to help with training and competition costs, while also delivering personal development opportunities to many athletes through workshop sessions.

“I managed to get access to a lake, and I am hitting that race speed. I am seeing every part of my training come together like a jigsaw puzzle. It is almost there.”

Each year, athletes are nominated to SportsAid by the national governing bodies of more than 60 sports, based on set criteria.

The Rising Stars athletes will be receiving financial support through Aldi as well as a monthly food voucher, to fuel them through training, competitions and to future Olympic and Paralympic Games.

For Cabrera, the goal is to compete for Team GB at the Olympics, and it is an ambition that is tangible.

After coming through at Fowey River Canoe Club, Cabrera finished first at the British Open National Championships in the Under-18 K4 5k, while he was ninth in the under 18 category at the Marathon World Championships.

He said: “The ultimate dream for any athlete is to go to the Olympics and I really want to do that.

“I used to watch the Olympics before I got into fitness and sport and even then, I would watch it and feel like I was in the Games.

“When I watch the Olympics it is a whole different thing than watching football on the tv - it’s four years of hard work going into five or ten minutes of sporting activities.

“Just watching other people make their dreams come true, and a lot of the time people come from relatively little - it just shows that if you put your mind to it and if you dedicate so much to it it’s doable.”

In the short-term Cabrera is due to study product design at the University of Nottingham.

However, the young athlete trains six days a week and has set his sights far beyond the lecture hall.

He said: “In five years’ time I see myself going to a World Championships, in the 500k team and just smashing it, and hopefully making a final, top five maybe? Even a medal?”

Aldi is the Official Supermarket Partner of Team GB and ParalympicsGB and have partnered with Team GB since 2015, ParalympicsGB since 2022 and will be supporting them through to Paris 2024