Helen selected to represent SA in the Canoe Sprint World Championships
She said her success in the sport is all based on hard work, dedication and balancing everything she does.
Afrikaanse Hoërskool Germiston learner Helen Jansen van Vuuren continues to shine and excel in the canoeing community.
The 18-year-old canoeist has been selected to be part of the team to represent South Africa at the ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships, scheduled to take place from August 31 to September 4, 2022, in Szeged, Hungary.
She is the only junior selected. She is excited and proud.
“This opportunity means a lot to me because I get to represent South Africa which is an honour.
“I’m excited and looking forward to racing against the best juniors in the world and meeting new people,” said Helen.
She said canoeing is her first love along with sailing. She started the sport at the age of 13 and has never looked back. She said the journey has been amazing and she has learnt a lot along the way but it also has its challenges.
“The journey has been fun and stressful. I have had the opportunity of meeting amazing people and also the sport itself has offered amazing opportunities. But also, with some challenges. There are not enough women in the sport in South Africa. I want to promote and be an ambassador for women in canoeing,” said Helen.
She said her success in the sport is all based on hard work, dedication and balancing everything she does. She trains 12 times a week and still has school.
“My day starts at 04:00. I travel to the sports science lab at Loftus in Pretoria for my gym session at 05:00. I arrive home to attend school from 07:45 to 14:30. I do my school work till 16:30. I then go and do my canoe sessions till 18:00. I come back home and complete homework/study and have some family time,” said Helen.
She said her memorable moments since she started has to be her two Olympic Hopes Regattas in Slovakia in 2019 and also in the Czech Republic in 2021. She also attended the U23 and Junior World Championship in Portugal last year where she made the B final in the 1 000m K1, which resulted in her being ranked 18 in the world. The young canoeist plans to try and make the Olympic team in the next five years.
