Help Send Camilla to the Asia Pacific Championships & more

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National champion. Asia Pacific representative. 17 years old. Now she needs your help to get there.

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At just 17 years old, Camilla Barbi from Floreat, WA has achieved something extraordinary: she has been selected for the Australian Asia Pacific Team in her very first year competing in the Under 18 division. This isn&#39;t just a result. It&#39;s recognition from Paddle Australia that Camilla is one of the best young canoe sprint athletes in the country, competing across K1 (Kayak Single), C1 (Canoe Single), and K2 (Kayak Double). And it didn&#39;t come out of nowhere. Camilla has had a remarkable 2026 season, competing at Grand Prix 1 VIC, Grand Prix 2 Sydney, the WA State Championship, and the 2026 Australian Nationals. These events all cost money to attend, and Camilla has already invested significantly in getting to this point. Her results at the 2026 Australian National Championships speak for themselves:&#129351; 1st WK1 Long Distance — Under 16&#129351; 1st WC1 500m — Under 18&#129352; 2ndWK4 500m — Under 18&#129352; 2nd WC1 200m — Under 18&#129353; 3rd WK2 200m — Open&#129353; 3rd State vs State WK4 500m — Under 18 And this isn&#39;t her first time on the world stage. Last year, Camilla qualified for and raced in the ICF Canoe Marathon U18 Championship in Hungary — competing against the best junior marathon paddlers in the world. She knows what international competition feels like. She knows what it takes. Now she needs the support to do it again. Her 2026 Race CalendarApril 2026 — New Zealand National Championships Camilla will compete at the NZL Nationals as part of her lead-up preparation, testing herself against top international competition ahead of the Asia Pacific Championship. May 2026 — Asia Pacific Championship, New Zealand Selected to represent Australia, Camilla will line up against the best U18 paddlers from across Asia and the Pacific. This is her first time representing her country at this level — a milestone that very few athletes achieve in their first U18 season. July 2026 — International Canoe Federation Race, Auronzo di Cadore, Italy Camilla will also compete at an ICF-sanctioned international event in the Italian Dolomites — one of the most prestigious canoe sprint competitions on the international circuit for junior and senior athletes. Three international events. Two countries. One very determined 17-year-old. <h3> </h3>Why Your Support Is NeededPaddle Australia will contribute toward the costs of the Asia Pacific Championship, but it does not cover everything. The full cost of international competition at this level is significant — and it falls on the athlete and their family to bridge the gap. <h3>Your donation will directly fund:</h3><ul><li>✈️ Flights — to 2x New Zealand and Italy</li><li>&#127976; Accommodation — across all three events</li><li>&#127941; Race entry fees — for NZL Nationals, Asia Pacific, and the ICF race in Italy</li><li>&#128676; Equipment &amp; boat transport — getting her kayak and canoe to the start line</li></ul>Every dollar brings Camilla closer to the water. <h3>About Camilla</h3>Camilla Barbi is a 17-year-old canoe sprint athlete based in Floreat, Western Australia. She trains in a sport that demands extraordinary physical conditioning, technical precision, and mental toughness, racing flat-water courses at speeds that leave spectators breathless. Competing across K1, C1, and K2, K4 a rare multi-class versatility, Camilla has built her results through years of early mornings on the water, competing at Grand Prix events, State Championships, and Nationals while managing school full time. She already has international experience: last year she qualified for and raced in the ICF Canoe Marathon U18 World Championship in Hungary — going head-to-head with the best junior marathon paddlers on the planet. In 2026, she added two national titles at the Australian Nationals to her name. The Asia Pacific Team selection followed. This is what a pathway to the top looks like — and right now, she needs the community behind her to keep going. <h3>A Note on Tax Deductibility</h3>All donations are made through the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF), a registered charity. Your donation is fully tax deductible, you will receive a receipt for your records.Whether you give $25 or $2,500, every contribution counts and is deeply appreciated by Camilla and her family.