SEATTLE — Aaron Small is in Paris as an Olympian for the first time, but he has not forgotten how his time training in Seattle helped him reach the pinnacle of his sport.
"I've been paddling in Green Lake since I started the sport 12 years ago, so I've grown up with the Seattle Canoe and Kayak Club," Small told reporters from his first press conference at the Olympic Games. "They've kind of raised me to be the athlete I am today, so I'm grateful for all the coaches and all the community that's come with that club."
Small will represent Team USA in the Sprint Canoe K2, where two rowers race in a kayak. Small's partner in the boat is another western Washington product, as Jonas Ecker grew up in Bellingham before meeting and eventually training with Small on Green Lake.
"Since going to college at the University of Washington, I've been training at Green Lake with the Seattle Canoe and Kayak Club," Ecker said. "As Aaron's experience over his 12 years there, I've experienced over the past three or four years, an amazing community. The support is incredible, they're just there to help you succeed in just the best way that a family, almost can."
In addition to representing the Pacific Northwest, Small hopes to shine a light on hard-of-hearing athletes and raise awareness.
"I've been hard of hearing for pretty much my entire life," Small said. "I found out I was hard of hearing in kindergarten and I've been wearing hearing aids since then. It's been a long journey, being a hard of hearing athlete as well. But being able to compete at this high level, I know as a kid I would have wanted to have someone like a role model also being in my position, being hard of hearing, trying to compete at the highest level in sport.
"Now that I can kind of step in and fill that role for the next generation of younger kids I'm really hoping I can make a difference like breaking the stigma of hearing loss and wearing hearing aids."
Ecker and Small will begin their pursuit of a gold medal on Tuesday, Aug. 6, when the sprint canoe competition begins.