Olympian Sharron Davies says canoeist in OnlyFans row faces tough choice between sport and 'very good money'

3 June 2025, 08:07 | Updated: 3 June 2025, 11:27

Sharron Davies said the canoeist needs to make a choice between his sport and OnlyFans
Sharron Davies said the canoeist needs to make a choice between his sport and OnlyFans. Picture: Alamy/Social Media

By Asher McShane

Olympian Sharron Davies has backed a canoeist who was forced to turn to OnlyFans to fund his sporting ambitions.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Kurts Adams Rozentals claimed his Olympic dreams have been destroyed because of concerns about the "over spicy" content he posts on OnlyFans.

Sharron Davies told LBC this morning: “It’s a difficult one. All athletes are asked to sign a contract saying they won’t bring their sport or their country into disrepute. People might say an OnlyFans account does exactly that.

“This young man seems to have made an awful lot of money in just six months.

“If that’s the case, well he’s got quite a bit of funding now lined up so maybe he should back away from it.

Kurts Adams Rozentals took to social media to say he will not be able to compete at Los Angeles 2028 after he was suspended by governing body Paddle UK last month
Kurts Adams Rozentalsw took to social media to say he will not be able to compete at Los Angeles 2028 after he was suspended by governing body Paddle UK last month. Picture: Getty

“Take his money, use it very cleverly and wisely but I guess he’s just going to have to make a choice - what is the most important to him?

“Is his sport most important or the ability to go out there and earn very good money doing something that would break the rules that he’s signed up to.”

She said that if he backs down, Paddle UK should look to readmit him.

“He needs a good conversation with his governing body and I wish him all the best.”

Rozentals took to social media to say he will not be able to compete at Los Angeles 2028 after he was suspended by governing body Paddle UK last month.

The athlete, from Staffordshire, claims this was due to "allegations" surrounding his posts on the adult content site.

Paddle UK has refused to clarify the reasoning behind his suspension, but the Brit took to Instagram on Thursday to accuse the sport's chiefs of taking issue with his online persona.

Rozentals' career had been going from strength to strength after he won the individual C1 silver at the World Under-23 Championships in 2023.

But after creating an OnlyFans account in January to help fund his training programme, things started to fall apart.

Read more: Manchester City chairman sets out transfer plans and promises new signings before Club World Cup

Read more: Ruben Amorim says Manchester United desperate to 'turn the page' after poor season and shock loss on Asian tour

In April, Paddle UK removed Rozentals from their World Class Programme - the UK Sport lottery-funded initiative to help athletes with their Olympic dreams - pending an investigation.

Rozentals has posted 39 videos and over 100 photos on the subscription-based website, accumulating more than 10,000 likes.

Posting a statement to his Instagram account on Wednesday, Rozentals said: "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."

According to Rozentals, a Paddle UK representative told him he wasn't allowed to contact any of the staff or his fellow athletes on the programme while he was suspended.

"I couldn't believe the words I was hearing because this is what I put my life into this is everything I do," he wrote.

"My personality at this point, my identity, is sport and I want to be a professional athlete chasing my Olympic dream."

According to Rozentals, a Paddle UK representative told him he wasn't allowed to contact any of the staff or his fellow athletes on the programme while he was suspended
According to Rozentals, a Paddle UK representative told him he wasn't allowed to contact any of the staff or his fellow athletes on the programme while he was suspended. Picture: Instagram

Rozentals says he turned to making OnlyFans content because the £16,000 grant he received from the Paddle UK's programme was not enough.

"I don't know how much you need but it's certainly not £16,000," he explained.

"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."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Phineas Float, Jonathan Collyer, and Lisa Stocker who are accused of smuggling nearly a kilogram (over two pounds) of cocaine into Indonesia sit inside the courtroom at Denpasar District Court

'I was framed': British mother facing death penalty in Bali for 'smuggling cocaine in Angel Delight' claims stitch-up

A TV ad for Twix showing a man with flowing hair involved in a car chase and crash that results in his and an identical, caramel-coloured car sandwiched on top of each other, has been banned

Twix advert banned for encouraging unsafe driving

Police searching for Madeleine McCann clues uncovered buried guns and bone fragments

Madeleine McCann police find ‘two buried guns' near prime suspect's abandoned house

Claudia Winkleman (left) and Tess Daly are set to be recognised in the King's Birthday Honours list

Strictly Come Dancing hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly 'to be recognised' in King's Birthday Honours list

One of the Red Arrows Hawk T1 jets comes in to land at Liverpool John Lennon Airport. The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team are staying overnight in Liverpool before continuing their their journey from RAF Lossiemouth.

RAF hits back over claims Red Arrows 'in crisis' after legendary display team forced to plunder old planes for parts

A vehicle is set alight during an anti-immigration demonstration in Ballymena

Anti-immigration unrest leaves 17 officers injured in Ballymena as police chief slams 'dangerous' underfunding

Manchester City have unveiled French star Rayan Cherki ahead of Club World Cup

Manchester City seal £30.5million deal for France midfielder Rayan Cherki ahead of Club World Cup

Harry Brook and England with the vitality trophy during the 3rd Vitality IT20 between England and West Indies at Utilita Bowl.

England complete T20 series clean sweep to continue Harry Brook’s winning start

Orlando Bloom's two-hour procedure took place at Clarify Clinic in London

Orlando Bloom pays £10k treatment to remove microplastics from his blood

Rough sleeping is set to be decriminalised in England and Wales

Rough sleeping to be decriminalised in England and Wales under plans to ditch 'pernicious' 200-year-old law

A 14-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in Manchester has been named locally as Ibrahima Seck

Three teenage boys charged with the murder of 14-year-old Manchester schoolboy Ibrahima Seck

Health leaders are now urging people to be cautious when considering cosmetic procedures.

Vampire facial warning issued after cleaning concerns at Wolverhampton clinic

An elderly old age pensioner sits with his hands on a walking stick in a care home.

Gut bacteria changes could be ‘warning sign for worsening Parkinson’s symptoms’

Karen Bass says the restrictions will be in force in downtown areas of LA from 8pm to 6am local time (4am to 2pm UK time).

Los Angeles mayor imposes curfew 'to stop the looting' on fifth day of clashes against immigration raids

The report added that it should become easier for parents to organise “safe play” in their streets, and there should be a national ban on “No Ball Games” signs.

'Too much screen time, not enough play': Calls to ban ‘No Ball Games’ signs to reduce children's reliance on smartphones

The ASA did not uphold complaints about Price appearing to be unhealthily thin, and concluded that the ad was not irresponsible on that basis.

'Not empowering - just objectifying': Advertising watchdog bans Diesel ad featuring Katie Price