Jake and Georgina Cochrane are pursuing Los Angeles 2028 Olympic qualification together after marrying earlier this year. The Belfast-born canoe slalomist and his Australian wife met on the international circuit in 2019, bonding over their shared passion for the sport while training in Pau, France.

Jake narrowly missed the Paris Olympics in a selection race-off, falling short by mere inches in a gut-wrenching performance that his wife witnessed firsthand. His previous attempt at Tokyo 2021 also ended without qualification, but consistent World Cup final appearances have kept his Olympic ambitions alive.

Georgina recently transferred from Australia to Ireland and made her World Cup debut representing her adopted nation. She competes in both C1 and K1 events, needing top-10 and top-6 finishes respectively to secure Olympic berths. The qualification window begins in July with the World Championships in Oklahoma City.

Nine events over 15 months will determine Olympic qualifiers, with the best five results counting. Both athletes emphasize how their partnership strengthens their competitive drive, turning individual Olympic dreams into a shared mission that makes training more meaningful.