Latest news with #PaddleUK
BBC News
21 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
More than 60 bags of litter fished from River Soar
Volunteers say they fished out more than 60 bags of litter from a mile-long section of the River Soar in the space of a of the items recovered included a mattress, a safe and a religious clean-up involved 100 people on kayaks, canoes and paddleboards removing the waste as part of a national effort to clear rivers of plastic and rubbish. The litter picks were carried out by people from local groups and businesses along one mile (1.6km) of the river either side of Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre in Belgrave. The groups paddled along the river equipped with litter pickers, gloves and waste bags to remove the floating rubbish, as well as objects stuck in the Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre teamed up with Paddle UK - previously named British Canoeing - for the 2025 Big Paddle Cleanup from 24 May and through the half-term week as part of a national effort to clear litter from UK rivers. Parents and children had been encouraged to take to the water during the school holidays as part of the clean-up of the volunteers was 10-year old Ada who says it is not difficult to find a bin rather than throw rubbish in the river."We even found whole bags full of rubbish in there. It was easier to pick them out, but it isn't nice because people should just put it in the bin, it's not that hard."Meanwhile, Arya, also aged 10, says she felt sad lifting a statue of The Virgin Mary from the river during her clear up."Someone just discarded it, it wasn't nice to see as it means a lot to people," she said. Damaging to wildlife Hayley Smitham Hopewell, education and development manager at the pursuits centre, says the volunteers have found some unsettling things in the river in their recent clean up."Unfortunately, we found a dog, which meant we had to call the RSPCA, which was very sad. We also find mattresses, safes filled with valuables, gold and even a motorbike."She also says more than 1,000 bags of rubbish have been recovered from the river since she joined the facility, indicating that despite their efforts, the problem still persists."I understand that people want to use the river as a sanctuary by throwing flowers in etc," she added."But some of the things we find are bits of jewellery, photo frames or ornaments, which is really damaging to the wildlife and to the children who come here." Sue Willis, engagement co-ordinator for the Canal and River Trust visited the site during the week to understand the scale of the problem."It's quite surprising how bad it is, what you see on the surface is the wrappers and crisp packets but beneath the surface is lots of plastic bags and even big pieces of iron - things that aren't visible to the eye unless you go out on the boats."
Courier-Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
British canoeist forced to decide between Olympic dream and OnlyFans
Don't miss out on the headlines from Other Sports. Followed categories will be added to My News. Canoeist Kurts Adams Rozentals has a decision to make — his OnlyFans or the Olympics. The British athlete was reportedly suspended last month by governing body Paddle UK, and he suspects it has something to do with his racy activity online. 'I have been posting videos (on Instagram) that are consciously made to be edgy in order to drive conversions to my 'spicy content page' (on OnlyFans), to fund this ultimate dream of going to the Olympics,' Rozentals said in an interview with BBC Sport. Kurts Adams Rozentals was suspended in April by governing body Paddle UK. Picture: kurtsadams/Instagram Paddle UK removed Rozentals from its World Class Programme pending an investigation. Picture: kurtsadam/Instagram Rozentals was removed from the World Class Programme, an initiative for potential Olympic athletes, by Paddle UK pending investigation, leaving his canoeing dreams up in the air. 'I kind of froze and I couldn't believe the words I was hearing because this is what I put my life into this is everything I do,' Rozentals told the outlet of the moment he heard the news. 'My personality at this point, my identity, is sport and I want to be a professional athlete chasing my Olympic dream.' BBC Sport reported Rozentals 'has more than 10,000 'likes' on the platform and 'has posted 39 videos and over 100 photos' earning more than '$A209,560 since creating his OnlyFans account in January.' 'This is the hardest decision that I've ever faced in my life,' Rozentals said. 'I came to the realisation about why I started doing this last winter after years of struggle, living on the edge, my mum working 90 hours-a-week, having bailiffs at the door.' 'I'm going to find a way where we don't have to struggle, where my mum can enjoy her life and I'm able to put everything into this sport because when you're thinking about how to pay the rent this month and you're standing at the start line, that's not very conducive (to performing well).' Rozentals posts videos and pictures on his Instagram account to drive viewers towards the content. Picture: kurtsadam/Instagram As a UK Paddle Programme athlete, Rozentals had been receiving $A33,529 - but said that's nowhere near enough to sustain himself.' 'I don't know how much you need but it's certainly not $A33,529,' said Rozentals. 'When you have to cover rent, travel, food… and most athletes who train full-time are all living in London.' 'They're very fortunate to have parent backing — I wasn't. I never had the ability to move to London because of financial struggles so I was always doing the travel from the East Midlands, where I live, to London, back-and-forth, back-and-forth.' This story originally appeared on the New York Post and is republished here with permission
NDTV
a day ago
- Business
- NDTV
British Canoeist Claims He's Being Forced To Choose Between Olympics And OnlyFans
A British canoeist has alleged that he is being forced to choose between his Olympic dream and financial independence after being suspended from national-level competition, reportedly due to his content on the subscription-based platform OnlyFans. Kurts Adams Rozentals, a promising athlete in individual canoe slalom and a silver medallist at the 2023 World Under-23 Championships, was suspended in April by the UK's canoeing governing body, Paddle UK. The suspension came amid an ongoing investigation into unspecified social media content. While Paddle UK has not confirmed the nature of the allegations, Rozentals believes the action stems from his activity on OnlyFans, a website known for adult content, where he claims to have earned over 100,000 pounds since January this year. "I've posted content that's edgy on Instagram to drive traffic to my OnlyFans, and that income helps fund my Olympic dream," Rozentals told BBC Sport. The athlete said he was removed from Paddle UK's World Class Programme- a lottery-funded scheme supporting elite athletes- without being offered clarity or support. He is currently barred from contacting other programme members during the investigation. Rozentals, who receives an annual grant of 16,000 Pounds through the programme, argues the funding is far from sufficient to cover basic living and training costs, particularly for athletes based around London. "Most athletes are supported by their families. I wasn't. I travelled back and forth from the East Midlands, spending whatever I could to chase this dream," he said. He insists his decision to join OnlyFans was driven by years of financial hardship, including his family struggling with debts and his mother working 90-hour weeks. "When you're at the start line thinking about how to pay rent, you're not performing at your best." In a statement, Paddle UK said the action taken was not disciplinary but a "neutral" and "interim" measure to safeguard all parties while the matter is reviewed by Sport Integrity, an independent investigation body. The governing body's disciplinary policy lists "offensive social media use" and "immoral behaviour" as examples of misconduct that could lead to de-selection. Rozentals says he won't shut down his OnlyFans account unless something changes. "It's the hardest decision of my life-giving up either financial stability or the sport I've put my whole identity into." The case highlights the ongoing debate over athlete funding, personal branding, and how governing bodies respond to monetisation strategies that fall outside traditional norms. Notably, Olympic gold medallist diver Jack Laugher also created an OnlyFans account in 2024 to supplement his income, sparking discussions about financial pressures faced even by elite athletes. UK Sport, the funding body behind the athlete grant programme, declined to comment on the specific case but said in a statement: "Our Athlete Performance Award is designed to support basic living and sporting costs. We announced an increase in these allowances earlier this year." As Rozentals awaits the outcome of the investigation, his case has stirred a broader conversation around athlete autonomy, digital monetisation, and whether current support systems are keeping pace with the realities of modern sports careers.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
‘Inspiration doesn't pay rent': British canoeist forced to choose between his Olympic dream and Onlyfans account
Kurts Adams Rozentals, a rising star in British canoe slalom, finds himself caught in a deeply personal and public struggle: pursue his Olympic dream or maintain financial independence through his growing OnlyFans platform. The 24-year-old athlete, who clinched silver at the World Under-23 Championships in 2023, has been suspended by PaddleUK following undisclosed allegations related to his social media activity. While the governing body has not explicitly stated the reasons, Rozentals believes his burgeoning presence on the subscription site OnlyFans — famous for adult content — is at the heart of the controversy. A post shared by Kurts Adams Rozentals (@kurtsadams) Rozentals, who competes in the individual C1 canoe slalom discipline, has openly admitted to creating 'edgy' Instagram posts aimed at driving fans to his OnlyFans page, where he shares more content. Since launching the account in January 2025, he has amassed over 10,000 likes and posted nearly 40 videos and 100 photos, reportedly earning upwards of £100,000. This financial boost is critical to his training and Olympic ambitions. 'I have been posting videos (on Instagram) that are consciously made to be edgy in order to drive conversions to my 'spicy content page' (on OnlyFans), to fund this ultimate dream of going to the Olympics,' Rozentals told BBC Sport. Despite receiving a £16,000 annual grant from PaddleUK's World Class Programme, Rozentals says this support falls far short of covering the real costs of training, travel, rent, and nutrition. 'I don't know how much you need but it's certainly not £16,000,' said Rozentals. 'When you have to cover rent, travel, food... and most athletes who train full-time are all living in London. They're very fortunate to have parent backing — I wasn't. I never had the ability to move to London because of financial struggles so I was always doing the travel from the East Midlands, where I live, to London, back-and-forth, back-and-forth.' Last month, Rozentals received a shocking phone call from PaddleUK, informing him he was suspended and barred from contacting staff or fellow athletes while an investigation proceeds. Paddle UK insists this suspension is a 'neutral act designed to protect all parties' and an 'interim' measure to protect all parties and safeguard the environment for athletes and volunteers. A post shared by Kurts Adams Rozentals (@kurtsadams) Their Athlete Disciplinary Policy highlights 'offensive use of social media' and 'indecent, offensive or immoral behaviour' as grounds for potential dismissal. When asked if he would give up his OnlyFans account to stay in the programme, Rozentals was clear: he refuses to be forced into such a choice. 'This is the hardest decision that I've ever faced in my life,' he said. 'I came to the realisation about why I started doing this last winter after years of struggle, years of living on the edge, my mum working 90 hours-a-week, having bailiffs at the door,' he continued. 'I'm going to find a way where we don't have to struggle, where my mum can enjoy her life and I'm able to put everything into this sport because when you're thinking about how to pay the rent this month and you're standing at the start line, that's not very conducive [to performing well],' he said. The dilemma facing Rozentals is not isolated. Olympic gold medallist diver Jack Laugher also joined OnlyFans in 2024 to supplement his income, posting non-explicit photos of himself in competition gear. Laugher's father emphasised the platform is 'nothing that you couldn't show your grandma,' underscoring the legitimacy of athletes seeking alternative income sources amid limited funding. UK Sport, responsible for the Athlete Performance Award (APA) system, confirmed recent increases in athlete funding but declined to comment on ongoing investigations. For Rozentals, the answer could define not just his future, but the future of British sport itself.
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
From canoes to nudes: Team GB star Kurt Adams claims Olympic ban over ‘edgy' OnlyFans hustle that saved him from homelessness
British canoeist says OnlyFans income saved him from homelessness, but cost him his Olympic dream British canoeist Kurt Adams Rozentals, 22, is in controversy after being suspended from Paddle UK's World Class Programme, jeopardizing his aspirations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The suspension follows his creation of an OnlyFans account, a subscription-based platform often associated with adult content, which he started in January to supplement his limited athlete funding. Rozentals, who earned a silver medal in the C1 event at the 2023 World Under-23 Championships, has been part of Paddle UK's elite training program, receiving an annual grant of £16,000. He argues that this amount is insufficient to cover the costs of training, travel, and living expenses, especially given the high cost of living in London. "Trying to live on the salary Paddle UK pays their athletes is near impossible," he stated on Instagram. "I was sick of worrying how to pay rent, I was sick of being on the verge of homelessness." To alleviate his financial burdens, Rozentals turned to OnlyFans, where he has reportedly earned over £100,000 since January. He has posted 39 videos and more than 100 photos on the platform, which has garnered over 10,000 likes. His content, described as "edgy," includes nude images sent directly to subscribers. Rozentals received a call from a Paddle UK representative in April informing him of his suspension from the second and final part of the GB team selections. He was also banned from communicating with his coach, staff, and teammates. Paddle UK confirmed that an athlete is under interim action pending the outcome of an investigation, stating, "Paddle UK can confirm that in line with our Athlete Disciplinary Policy, an athlete on the canoe slalom programme is under interim action, pending the outcome of an investigation." The investigation has been referred to the independent service Sport Integrity. The governing body's Athlete Disciplinary Policy lists "offensive use of social media" and "indecent, offensive or immoral behaviour" as examples of gross misconduct that could lead to de-selection. However, Paddle UK emphasized that the suspension is a "neutral act designed to protect all parties" and not a disciplinary action. Rozentals expressed his frustration and disappointment, stating, "This is the hardest decision that I've ever faced in my life." He added, "To ban me from racing? To ban me from speaking to my teammates like I'm some criminal? That's f**king insane." He highlighted the sacrifices his family has made, noting that his mother works 90 hours a week and that they have faced financial hardships, including the threat of remains suspended and unable to train or compete. He faces a difficult decision: continue his OnlyFans venture to maintain financial stability or cease his activities on the platform in hopes of reinstatement. "Unless something changes in the way athletes are paid, I don't see a way of working with Paddle UK," he remarked.
