Avionics technician Corporal Anna Thompson has powered her way to gold and silver at the 2025 Canoe Polo Championships, proving Air Force members can dominate the waters.
Corporal Thompson, of 36 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley, competed with Queensland and Australian teams at the Paddle Australia National Championships (April 11-13) and the Oceania Championships (April 17-20) on the Gold Coast.
Canoe polo, a fast-paced contact sport, pits teams of five paddlers in kayaks against each other on a 35-metre by 23-metre pitch, hurling a ball into a net two metres above the water.
It's a blend of strategy, speed and grit - think water polo meets rugby, with tackles and paddle-flicks galore.
"It's a really fast-paced game that encompasses a lot of components," Corporal Thompson said.
"You've got paddling skills, teamwork and it's contact - you can push people underwater or tackle them with your boat."
Corporal Thompson's journey began at 14 in Brisbane, sparked by her brother's primary school team.
"I kept showing up and eventually they let me play," she said.
Now 24, Corporal Thompson is a key player in the sport, contributing to Queensland's women's team winning national championship gold and helping Australia's senior women's A team earn silver at the Oceania event, narrowly losing to world champions New Zealand in the grand final.
'Being there and working as hard as you can to help your teammates directly translates over to service life.'
The Queensland team's national title was a comeback for the ages. After scraping into the semi-finals in fourth place amid rain and wind, they rallied to defeat teams they'd previously lost to.
"We just really lifted from there," Corporal Thompson said.
"The energy during and after the game - I still feel it now. It's just so cool that we had this massive comeback."
At the Oceania Championships, her Australian team showed similar determination, with heart-pounding moments including one-on-one penalty shots against goalkeepers.
Facing New Zealand, Corporal Thompson admired their "incredibly structured" play and "really good team synergy" honed over years.
"They're super-fast and very, very strong," she said.
Her Queensland and Australian teams thrived on similar bonds, with Queensland's core intact for five years and Australia's squad blending veterans and new faces.
"Everyone is willing to help each other out," she noted, praising the sport's tight-knit community.
The Air Force Sports Council played a key role in her success.
"They provide recognition, which is a really big player in negotiating time away from my unit, and it feels nice to be recognised for all the stuff I'm doing in my own hours," Corporal Thompson said.
As an avionics technician, Corporal Thompson sees parallels between her service and sport.
"Teamwork is huge," she said.
"Being there and working as hard as you can to help your teammates directly translates over to service life."
Her job keeps her fit, complementing the physical demands of canoe polo.
'It's eye-catching, and once you give it a go, there's nothing that quite compares.'
Canoe polo's growth - big in Europe, rising in Asia and expanding in Australia - makes it a sport to watch.
"It's eye-catching, and once you give it a go, there's nothing that quite compares," Corporal Thompson said.
Her pitch to Air Force members?
"Definitely give it a go," Corporal Thompson said.
"It's got elements of water polo, basketball, even rugby. The community is strong, and there's opportunity for everyone, from 14 to 70."
Local clubs such as Brothers Canoe Club in Indooroopilly welcome newcomers, backed by Paddle Australia's nine paddle disciplines.
Looking to 2026, Corporal Thompson's sights are set on the World Championships in Duisburg, Germany (September 15-20).
After placing 14th in China last year, she's eager to build on her Oceania silver.
"I'm training for the Worlds, plus local and interstate comps, and another Nationals early next year," she said.
