Paddler Finn Butcher won the kayak cross event at the Paris Olympics in early August, leading all the way in the extreme event. The win was a surprise and a huge thrill for Butcher, who ended up being the flag bearer at the closing ceremony along with Dame Lisa Carrington.
Butcher made a flying visit back to Alexandra later that month and attended an assembly at his old school, Dunstan High School.
He then returned to Europe to compete and ride the wave of Olympic achievement.
Details have now been released by the Central Otago District Council in a statement. It outlines official celebrations in Alexandra to give the Central Otago community the chance to congratulate the paddler on his climb to the top of the medal dais.
Butcher grew up in Alexandra and started his paddling career in waterways around the town.
The event will take place on October 26, at 2pm.
The gold medallist will be joined by dozens of paddlers from the Central Otago Whitewater Club back on the waters of the Manuherikia River. The group will kayak down the river, which many of them are familiar with, and then pull in just past the Shaky Bridge.
The paddlers will then form a Guard of Honour for Butcher as he enters the Linger and Die area. People are welcome to line the path and share a moment with Butcher and his medal as he walks to Centennial Park, where a civic reception will be held for him.
Fingers will all be crossed that the weather will play ball.
Central Otago District Mayor Tim Cadogan is standing down as mayor on October 26 so it should be a good way to go out for him — celebrating the district’s first gold medallist.
Skier Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, who won a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022, comes from Wanaka along with fellow Winter Olympian gold medallist Nico Porteous, who also won gold in Beijing.
