Kenneth's Story
Kenneth “Ken” Vidler was born in Perth and grew up in Scarborough, Western Australia. He began paddling surf skis after joining the Scarboro Surf Life Saving Club in 1967, developing into a champion ironman and one of Australia’s most successful surf lifesaving competitors.
Vidler’s paddling ability carried him into canoe sprint and wildwater racing. He won the national wildwater single kayak title in 1978 and competed at the 1978 and 1979 World Canoeing Championships, finishing fourth in the 1,000 metres four-person kayak in 1979.
At 26, Vidler made his Olympic debut at Moscow 1980 as part of Australia’s crew in the 1,000 metres four-person kayak. The Australians reached the Olympic final and finished eighth, completing Vidler’s transition from surf lifesaving champion to Olympic canoe sprint finalist.
