Duncan Cochrane - Australian

Duncan Cochrane - Member of the World Paddle Awards Academy

Somewhat of a legend in the kayak polo world, Duncan Cochrane won 3 World Championship golds with the Australia Men's Team (1994, 1996 and 1998) – he captained the team of 1996 and 1998. In total he has competed in 5 Worlds, finishing 5th both in 2000 and 2002.

He started playing in 1986, first representing Australia in 1989 and retired from the national squad shortly after the World Championships in 2002 to focus on coaching. However, he continued to play at domestic level becoming 2-time Oceania Champion (2003, 2005) as well as 20-time Australian Champion throughout his athletic career.

He briefly returned to the sport in 2009 when he competed at the World Games in Kaohsiung Taiwan – Australia Men took bronze over Italy.

Parallel to being 'on-the-water' as a player, Duncan was also a highly-respected Coach at international level; particularly for the Australia Women's Team in 1994 and 2000 – they won gold in 1994 under his wing. He made several appearances in numerous countries as 'Guest Coach', for example training Australia Men at the Worlds in Japan  in 2004. Furthermore he trained the Australia men's team that won the Oceania Championship in 2007.

Following a few years away from coaching, he additionally made another temporary comeback in 2012 helping the Australian Men to 4th place in Poland.

As well as participating and coaching, Duncan is known for his administrative work for kayak polo sport. Whilst still playing professionally, Duncan joined the International Canoe Federation (ICF) Athletes Commission in 1998. He was Chair of his local SA Committee for several years, he then went onto become Chief Referee for the ICF Polo Committee where he continues to serve.

It does not stop there either; Duncan, with his wife Carolyn*, is Owner and Director of Kayaks Plus Pty Ltd. Originally specialising in the design and the manufacture of polo-kayaks, equipment and accessories, Kayak Plus is now a wholesaler to the Australian and overseas markets. Born in 1993, their family-business expanded to become one of the world's leading suppliers – including the most popular design the 'Vampire Bat' which is paddled, certainly by the vast majority of Australian polo-players, and countless athletes in almost every major polo country.

Duncan was the first individual from a kayak polo background to join the Academy; his expertise as a polo player, coach, administrator, referee and equipment wholesaler are unrivalled.

*Carolyn Cochrane was an international polo-player winning gold for Australia at the 1998 World Championship, silver in 1996 and bronze, as Captain, in 2002. She was the first female to coach a senior men's team at any World Championship – she led Australia to 4th in Canada in 2008.