Tad Dennis, born Timothy Alan Dennis, is a world-class athlete in the men's single slalom canoe division and a current member of the USA Canoe/Kayak National Team. Tad was born on May 28, 1984 in Riverdale, Georgia. He grew up in Peachtree City, Georgia and attended McIntosh High School

McIntosh High School

McIntosh High School is a comprehensive four-year public secondary school located in Peachtree City, Georgia.It has an enrollment of 1700+ students in grades nine through twelve....

, graduating in 2002.

Tad began kayking at age 7 and began competing in the sport of whitewater slalom at age 11. From ages 11 to 13 Tad was on the US National Team for the Cadet age group, competing in the solo kayak (K1 men's) division. Tad then switched to the men's single canoe (C1 men's) division at age 14 and was a member of the US National Team for the Junior age group until he was 17. In 2001, Tad placed fourth at the Junior World Cup race in Prague

Prague

Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...

, Czech Republic

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....

.

Due to injury, Tad took a four year long hiatus from kayaking and started again in the summer of 2006. That August, Tad placed 8th at the US National Championships in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE

- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...

, North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

. The following spring, Tad placed 3rd at the 2007 USA Canoe/Kayak National Team Trials, earning him the third and last place on the US National Team in the men's C1 division. In spring of 2008, Tad placed 3rd at the US Olympic Team Trials at the U.S. National Whitewater Center

U.S. National Whitewater Center

The U.S. National Whitewater Center is a non-profit outdoor recreation and athletic training facility for whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, mountain biking and hiking which opened to the public on November 4th, 2006....

 earning him yet again the last spot on the US Nation Team. His teammate Benn Fraker

Benn Fraker

Benn Fraker is an American slalom canoer who has competed since the late 2000s. He finished sixth in the C-1 at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.-Background:...

 was selected to represent the United States in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

In addition to kayaking, Tad works as an air traffic controller

Air traffic controller

Air traffic controllers are the people who expedite and maintain a safe and orderly flow of air traffic in the global air traffic control system. The position of the air traffic controller is one that requires highly specialized skills...

 at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

Race results

2006 races	2007 races	2008 races
8th- US National Championship	3rd- Pan-American Championship, Brazil	3rd- NOC Glacier Breaker
	3rd- US Team Trials	3rd- US Olympic Team Trials
	19th- Beijing Olympic Test Event	17th- World Cup, Prague