14/12/2021
David Jones Motors providing Max Brown with the use of new Suzuki
Max Brown and his partner Kurtis Imrie came 5th out of 16 boats in the K-2 1000 metre Canoe Sprint Tokyo Olympics race. Their goal had been to get into the top 8 and therefore the finals. While Max says, “We were stoked with the result but then realised we were only 1 second away from a bronze medal and 1.8 seconds from the gold.”
The result has inspired them to set the goal of a gold medal in Paris in 2024. Max says, “It is very possible.” Prior to Tokyo, the pair had not raced for two years in contrast to most of their competitors who has frequent races in Europe and had gone to Tokyo ranked 15 out of 16 - so their achievement is that much more remarkable.
But being a full time athlete is not easy and with a recent reduction in salaries paid to successful Olympians, the costs of going to training and taking your kayak with you, makes it even more difficult financially.
Fortunately, David Jones Motors are assisting Max. They are providing Max with a 4 wheel drive Suzuki Vitara Turbo All Grip vehicle. He has the use of it with insurance, registration and serving included for the next year and Gareth Jones says, “We will rotate the care yearly up until the next Olympics.” The 4 wheel drive could also just come in handy given some of the places Max has to head off to.
Max is grateful and says, “It will be a huge help.” He adds, “I learnt to drive on a Suzuki Grand Vitara.”
Max was born and bred in Whanganui and says, “I am not a natural kayaker but I was prepared to do the hard work. I was the worst of my mates when I started, but I was prepared to work out through the winter, despite the rain and the wind, getting out there at 5.30am each morning.”
At 15 he went to the National Champs and “loved the atmosphere. The culture of the Whanganui club was race hard but have fun and that is still the approach.” Fast forward to 2019 and Max and Kurtis qualified to represent New Zealand at Tokyo but had to qualify again when the games were postponed for a year. It was stressful but the pair managed to win both qualifying events.
David Jones Motors has been sponsoring people and causes for 37 years and Gareth says, “It is good to be able to support our own sporting ambassador.”
Max and Gareth next to the car