Robin Bell started canoeing in 1992. Between 2001 and 2008, he achieved 13 Slalom World Cup medals.

Robin won silver in C1 at the 1999 Slalom World Championships and again at the 2001 Freestyle World Championships. He became C1 World Champion in 2005, claimed bronze in 2007 and regained the World Championship title in 2008.

Robin competed at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, placing 9^th and the Athens 2004 Olympics, placing 4^th. At the Beijing 2008 Olympics, he won bronze in the C1 event – the first Olympic slalom medal by an Australian male. 

In 2005, Robin was recognised as the Australian Institute of Sport Athlete of the Year.