Jonas Ecker (born October 26, 2002) is an American sprint kayaker. He qualified to represent the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics. He also won two medals at the 2023 Pan American Games, a silver in the K-1 1000 meters event and a bronze in the K-2 500 meters event.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | October 26, 2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | University of Washington | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Sprint kayak | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | K-1 1000 m, K-2 500 m | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Bellingham Canoe and Kayak Sprint Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Biography
editEcker was born on October 26, 2002.[1] He grew up in Bellingham, Washington.[2] He attended Bellingham's Sehome High School and later attended the University of Washington, where he majored in marine biology.[2][3]
Ecker started paddling at age 12 with the Bellingham Canoe and Kayak Sprint Team.[3][4] He participated at the National Sprint Championships and reached the finals of his age group in 2016.[5] He also competed at the Junior Ski to Sea Race several times and began competing at the main event in 2018.[2] He became a member of the United States national sprint canoeing team in 2018.[2] He won the national sprint canoe championship in 2021 and 2022 while also winning the 2022 U.S. Canoe Spring National Team Trials.[2]
Ecker partnered with Aaron Small in 2022 for K-2 canoeing events.[6][7] He competed at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, and won two medals: winning silver in the K-1 1000 meters event and winning bronze with Small at the K-2 500 meters event.[8] In 2024, he competed at the Canoe Sprint Americas Continental Olympic Qualifier with Small and they won in the finals in the K-2 500 meters event, securing a place at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[9][10]
References
edit- ^ "Jonas Ecker". American Canoe Association.
- ^ a b c d e Messmer, Alyse (May 24, 2022). "This U.S. kayaking champion born and raised in Bellingham is back to compete in Ski to Sea". Bellingham Herald – via archive.ph.
- ^ a b "Student-athlete, Jonas Ecker, qualifies for the 2024 Olympics in Paris". University of Washington. May 13, 2024.
- ^ "Jonas Ecker". Team USA.
- ^ Rabasch, David (August 12, 2016). "Bellingham paddlers make big medal haul at national championships". Bellingham Herald – via archive.ph.
- ^ Egan, Chris (April 22, 2024). "Washington sprint canoe duo qualify for 2024 Olympics". KING-TV.
- ^ Benintendi, Connor J. (April 11, 2024). "Bellingham sprint kayaker is one step away from Paris Olympics". Cascadia Daily News.
- ^ "Pan American Games 2023: Team USA's medal winners – full list". Olympics.com. November 5, 2023.
- ^ Smith, Bailey (April 24, 2024). "Two Americans qualify for 2024 Olympics at Panam Canoe Sprint championships in Sarasota". WBBH-TV.
- ^ Benintendi, Connor J. (April 23, 2024). "Bellingham paddler to compete at Paris Olympics". Cascadia Daily News.