Hannah Brown:
Wild Water Racing
World Champion
In June, British athlete Hannah Brown was crowned K1 Women’s Sprint World
Champion at the Wild Water Racing World Championships in Banja Luka, Bosnia and
Herzegovina. As well as competing in Wild Water Racing, Hannah is a women’s Sprint
kayaker and is a member of the 2015 British Senior Team.
Canoe Focus caught up with Hannah
following her gold medal success.
How did you first get into canoeing?
I first started canoeing during the school summer holidays
when I was 13, me and a couple of friends went do to Bradford
on Avon Canoe Club open sessions on a Saturday afternoon.
We spent most of the time swimming! We all stopped after
the holidays finished, but went straight back the next summer
holidays and I never stopped after that.
Why did you decide to get back into
Wild Water Racing?
For me Wild Water Racing is always close to my heart and
I have followed it watchfully whilst dedicating my time to
flatwater sprint. At the end of last season I sat down and set
out this year’s plan, which had two pathways, either to follow
a successful Olympic dream or get back onto the Wild Water
scene. And well, after a tricky start of the year with injury and
some poor results at the British Olympic selection races, I
jumped at the chance to get back in my Wild Water boat and
race at the Worlds at Banja Luka.
Which discipline do you enjoy the most and why?
This is tricky, both are fun and similar in certain ways… Wild
Water obviously has the element of exciting water and I do
love the amazing places it takes me around the world.
Would you encourage more paddlers to get
involved in multiple disciplines?
developing athletes. I think getting out of your comfort zone
and trying new things is how you can excel in sport. Also, the
more canoeing or races you do, the more people you meet so
socially it’s fantastic.
What's your proudest achievement in canoeing?
This year’s World Championship win is the proudest, it actually
makes me emotional just thinking about it. I had had such a
frustrating year beforehand, so to successfully come back after
so long out of the white water boat and with such a big team
around me was fantastic. Also having so many voices belting
out the national anthem whilst on the podium, many of which
have been alongside me throughout my canoeing career was a
pretty special moment.
What's next up for you?
I unfortunately dislocated my shoulder at the World Cup in
Pau, just a couple of weeks after the Worlds. So the coming
months will be filled with surgery followed with rehab so I can
get back in a boat as soon as possible!
If someone was looking to get into Wild Water
Racing what advice would you give them?
Definitely go out and give it a go! If you’re stuck or wondering
what the best option for you is in your area, I’d suggest
checking out the Facebook page ‘Wild Water Racing for Fun’.
It’s a really active page and if you dropped a message on there,
someone will quickly be able to point you in the right direction.
Otherwise check out the racing calendar on the website
www.wildwater.org.uk.
Massively, there are so many different skills that each
discipline uses and many are cross relatable. I think it is so
healthy to have a wide repertoire of skills, especially as young
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www.britishcanoeing.org.uk
Canoe Focus Autumn 2016
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