Paris 2024: Canvey youngster inspired by Team GB gold medal

Primrose Roberts was fascinated on Thursday as she watched Ellie Aldridge grab the kitesurfing gold medal for Team GB in Paris. 

The sport, which sees competitors fly above the water at up to 40 knots powered by huge kites, is making its debut at the 2024 Olympics and “daredevil” Primrose was immediately inspired. 

The youngster's dad Matt, from Canvey, has been a kitesurfer for more than ten years and has brought his children up to love the water.

Amazing - Primrose with her dad Matt in Shoebury (Image: Jon Webber)

And Primrose joined him on the board for the first time on Thursday at Shoebury’s East Beach.

Matt said: “It just so happened that it was decent wind that day, and we had won Gold in the Olympics.

“So, I took them down to the beach early evening, and that was the first time she had been on the board with me.

“Primrose absolutely loves water. She is a daredevil and wants to be like her daddy.

“We also do paddleboarding together, and she will sit on the front, she just loves the water.”

Happy - Primrose on a paddleboard (Image: Matt Roberts)

Primrose’s brother Lenny is also active and loves sport too alongside his sister and family.

Matt added: “In this world at the moment, inspiring kids to do things like this is very important.

“We have watched a fair bit of the Olympics together, as a family we are really into it, which is nice.

“She is a complete daredevil, and is a water baby, so she loved it.

“It was great when we first started, but it did get quite chopping in the end. She did want to do it again, but when it was a bit warmer.

“I am the kind of dad with lots of hobbies, so I encourage my children to be active and try different hobbies, as they see me do it all, especially water spots.

“So, who knows, maybe if she wants to do it again, we could see a future champion in Primrose.”