Homeward Bound

Training on the Kaiapoi River

Scott at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

image: Getty Images Sport

Sophie, Indie and Scott

When we talk on the phone, Cantabrian Scott Martlew - New Zealand’s top para-canoeist, has nine days left in MIQ after returning from the Paralympics in Tokyo. So what’s MIQ like for someone whose life is so focused on sports training? 

Words: Pattie Pegler Images: Brendan Holt, Display
Homeward Bound 

“The days are going quite fast, I’m doing a bit of work, I’ve got a spin bike so that’s quite good and I do a few circuits and we’re allowed out to the walking area so I have a bit of a routine,” replies Scott. He’s also looking forward to his 29th birthday and being reunited with his partner Sophie and their 2-year old Cocker Spaniel, Indie, in his hometown of Christchurch. 

These are upbeat answers - and not entirely surprising. Scott’s life story so far has seen him overcome challenges far greater than being confined to a hotel room for 14 days. 

Just over 11 years ago and still at high school, he took to the rugby pitch in a curtain raiser for the Crusaders vs Brumbies. He took a knock to the leg but adrenalin kept him playing and he didn’t think it was overly serious. Four days later he was in hospital with necrotizing fasciitis, the ‘flesh-eating’ disease. The only way to save his life was to amputate his leg.  

Now, reflecting on it, he’s pragmatic. “It was pretty hard,” he says, “It was very rare, how it happened. But I remember afterwards making that call in my mind ‘I’m going to make something of this’.”

Ten months after his accident he was back on the water as part of a team at the NZ Surf Lifesaving Nationals – the team won silver and gold. In 2016 he represented NZ at the Rio Paralympic Games – a first Paralympic outing for him and the sport of para canoe. 

His most recent competition in Tokyo was a little different he says due to Covid restrictions in the athletes’ village. “It was bizarre seeing all those empty stands,” says Scott.

“But you’re there to do a job and that was to race so that’s what I did.” 

And whilst the lack of spectators was unusual, Scott is full of praise for the ‘amazing’ volunteers and Japanese people that he met during his stay. 

The weeks and months ahead will see him readjusting. “It can be hard coming back to everyday life, so it’s having things to look forward that’s important.”  He’s got plenty he says – a new kneeboard he wants to try out, holiday plans with his partner and ever the driven sportsman he’s written down a list of local events he’d like to compete in. 

And of course, there’s his day job as an estimator for Downer. Before he lost his leg he had wanted to be in the construction industry, after his injury he decided he could still aim for that - just in a slightly different role. He studied Quantity Surveying at CPIT and has been with Downer for the last seven years – they are “amazing” he says and allow him the time to train and compete. 

That training is six days a week with 6am starts in the gym and sessions out on the Avon River. And he’s got an eye firmly set on the Paris Paralympics in 2024. “But a sporting career only lasts so long,” he says and realistically it’s really important to have long term plans that go beyond that.  

With this in mind he has recently set up a business with partner Sophie – acting as the exclusive NZ agent for Plastex canoes. There are also plans to expand the business, Dawnset, into other paddling gear and casual wear. 

But his business goals run deeper than that. One regret he says is that he didn’t take up the sport of paddling sooner. 

“Being out on the surf is great. I’d like to inspire others to try paddling,” he says.

Boat Basics

Manufacturer - Plastex, Made in Poland, Price range between $5k - 7k, Length 5.2m, Carbon fibre, Weight 12 kg