Bellingham’s Jonas Ecker has returned from the 2024 Paris Olympics to spend the final weeks of summer break in his hometown and on the waters he grew up on.
“Being back in Bellingham is really nice,” Ecker said. “Most people talk about the post-Olympic blues but I am very lucky to come back to a community that has been there the whole time with me for the Olympics.”
The 21-year-old Sehome graduate paddled in the Men’s Kayak Single 1,000-meter — in which he finished fifth in the quarterfinals and did not advance — and the Men’s Kayak Double 500-meter with Seattle’s Aaron Small at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.
The highlight of the pair’s exciting Olympic debut was reaching the medal round of the double 500-meter event. The American duo finished eighth in the Finals A in 1:30.02, 3.15 seconds behind Germany’s Jacob Schopf and Max Lemke.
Although Ecker and Small were the first U.S. duo in 20 years to compete in the Men‘s Kayak Double in the Olympics, the two of them learned how they can improve for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“Being so young at the games, a lot of it was new experiences,” Ecker said. “We prepared for it like any other event. One thing we didn’t anticipate was all the walking we had to do. When you’re racing, you want to minimize the extra exertions.”
Ecker walked between 10,000 and 12,000 steps a day while competing at the Olympics. He would walk from the dorm to the dining hall, the Olympic Village to the buses and the water to the boat houses.
“The steps snuck up on you,” Ecker said. “The future will be learning about the village because it is like Disneyland for the athletes.”
Even though Ecker did not earn a medal, the Olympics were an unforgettable experience. He enjoyed making friends across the world, competing alongside other top American athletes, and spending time with family and friends.
Ecker also enjoyed being a role model for younger athletes at the Bellingham Canoe Kayak Sprint Team.
“I grew up with the team and they are a big part of where I am today,” Ecker said. “I still race for Bellingham and the kids are always excited to see me racing with the gear on. When I was at their age, there was a gap of role models at the Olympic level, so I hope I can show younger athletes that we can still compete.”
Since the kayak events were one of the final competitions, Ecker did not have much free time to attend other events in person.
“I would have loved to watch Team USA compete more in person,” Ecker said. “I was lucky enough to watch the men’s road race and be in that environment. I was able to watch a lot of the competitions in the U.S. athlete lounge.”
During the opening ceremony, Ecker saw and met some of the more famous Olympic athletes on the U.S. boat. He said he was on the upper level looking down on big names such as LeBron James and Stephen Curry. He also traded pins with other U.S. athletes, including the 3×3 women’s basketball team and was in the background of Noah Lyles’ Instagram post.
After the Olympics finished, Ecker, his partner Eliza Perry, and some high school friends went to the Alps then traveled Europe for a couple of weeks. When he returned, he was greeted with a handful of celebrations.
“Eliza’s aunt and uncle picked us up from the SeaTac airport and covered their car with ‘Welcome Home Jonas’ and ‘Honk if you love Olympians,’” Ecker said. “The following day, local paddling legend Duncan Howat wanted to do a celebratory party as well.”
Since his return, Ecker has been paddling at a low intensity on Lake Padden and Lake Whatcom nearly every day. Ecker says the three-week-long break has been his longest time away from the water since breaking his leg in 2017.
He will return to the University of Washington at the end of the month for his final quarter studying marine biology and chemistry. Once he finishes, he will either go into grad school or find a job and begin training for the 2028 Olympics.
Although Ecker is focused on some larger races next year, he is certain he will compete at Ski to Sea and other local events.
“I love how the community comes out for it,” Ecker said of Ski to Sea. “I call it the Bellingham Olympics.”
Until then, Ecker’s next local race will be at Lake Samish on Sept. 21 with a partner not yet chosen.
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
