In the heart of the exhilarating ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships 2025 at the Penrith Whitewater Stadium, a story of a different kind is unfolding. It's a story of raw emotion, unwavering support, and the powerful bonds of a global family, all under the guidance of one of the program’s coaches, Lachlan Bassett.

The International Canoe Federation (ICF) Development Squad brings together athletes from nations where high-level coaching and resources are scarce. This year's team includes athletes from Singapore, Turkey, Macedonia, Kenya, South Africa, and Latvia. According to Bassett, the program is about more than just paddling.

“We call ourselves the ‘TIP family,” Bassett said. “These athletes arrive, many of them for their first major international competition, and they often don’t have a full team with them. We become their federation. We become their family.”

Bassett explained that the coaching is incredibly hands-on, covering everything from basic boat repairs to race preparation – skills many seasoned athletes take for granted. Yet, it’s the moments off the water that truly define the squad.

The camaraderie is so powerful that language barriers quickly disappear. “Usually by the second day, everyone’s starting to make jokes,” Bassett noted. “You can see how the Singaporean athletes are hanging out with Turkey, who's hanging out with Kenya, South Africa. The coaches almost take a step back, and you can still see that bond is very strong.”

For Bassett, the program’s success is best measured by personal victories. He shared a poignant story about an athlete from Kenya with very little experience on whitewater. “For her, the success was getting down the course upright,” he said. “That’s her equivalent of winning a medal.” The cheers from the squad when she finished were more excited than any medal ceremony, a testament to the family they have become.

The impact extends beyond their immediate group. Elite athletes like Olympic silver medalist Adam Burgess and World Champion Kimberly Woods have taken time to meet with the squad. Bassett recalled the moment a young athlete from Turkey met Burgess. “He was gobsmacked. He was so excited he couldn’t speak,” Bassett said. “He’ll go home and he's like, ‘Ah, I met this silver medalist from the last Olympics, and he took the time to come talk to us.’” These interactions create priceless, inspiring memories.

As the championships conclude, Bassett knows the goodbyes will be emotional. “It’s one of those things where you kind of, you can't shape it in a particular way. It just makes its own shape,” he said, adding that tears are inevitable. But he sees these tears not just as an end, but as a beginning. The athletes will return home with new skills, a passion for the sport, and a permanent bond with their international family.

“Ultimately, that's what we want, is them to become the best paddler that they can be," Bassett concluded. "And they'll take these experiences and hopefully pass them on to other people.”

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