Alex Baldoni
Personal Details
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Biography
Alex Baldoni reached the podium in his first Pan American Games appearance, taking the silver medal in men’s kayak cross at Santiago 2023. He also competed in the men’s C-1 event, finishing fifth. He was accompanied in Santiago by his older sister Léa, who is also a member of Canada’s canoe/kayak slalom national team.
The Baldoni siblings were born and raised in France but had dual citizenship with Canada. When they began competing internationally, they chose to represent the home country of their mother Christine, who is originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and had been a competitive runner. While Baldoni was growing up, his family spent a month every year in Canada, which gave him a great appreciation for the values, culture, and nature of the country.
Baldoni secured Olympic qualification for Paris 2024 by winning the men’s C-1 event at the 2024 COPAC Canoe Slalom Americas Olympic Qualifier. He went on to finish fourth in the event at the 2024 Pan American Championships. Baldoni had been the silver medallist in men’s C-1 at the 2023 Pan American Championships.
Baldoni made his debut at the senior ICF World Championships in 2021. That same year, he achieved Canada’s best-ever performance in men’s canoe at the ICF Junior World Championships when he placed sixth. In 2023, Baldoni was a finalist in the men’s C-1 event at the ICF U23 World Championships, placing 10th overall.
Baldoni made his ICF World Cup debut in his hometown of Pau, France in November 2020, advancing to the semifinals in both C-1 and K-1.
A Little More About Alex
Getting into the Sport: Started kayaking through a school program when he was 10 and began competing a year later… The introduction to kayaking program was offered by Aldric Estanguet, brother of three-time Olympic champion in C-1, Tony Estanguet… At first, he was afraid of being upside down in the water and having to get his boat upright again, but soon fell in love with the thrill of whitewater paddling… Initially competed only in kayaking before a coach told him he was naturally gifted in canoeing…
Notable International Results
Pan American Games: 2023 – SILVER (kayak cross), 5th (C-1)
ICF World Championships: 2023 – 48th (C-1), 56th (K-1); 2022 – 32nd (C-1), 59th (K-1); 2021 - 40th (C-1)
ICF U23 World Championships: 2023 – 10th (C-1), 41st (K-1); 2022 - 25th (C-1), 48th (K-1)
ICF Junior World Championships: 2021 - 6th (C-1), 34th (K-1)
COPAC Pan American Championships: 2024 – 4th (C-1); 2023 - SILVER (C-1), 4th (K-1)
