Jean van der Westhuyzen

Jean van der Westhuyzen
Personal information
NationalityAustralian
Born (1998-12-09) 9 December 1998 (age 25)
Cape Town, South Africa
Height1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Sport
CountryAustralia
SportCanoe sprint
Medal record
Representing  South Africa
Men's canoe marathon
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Pietermaritzburg K-2
Representing  Australia
Men's canoe sprint
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo K-2 1000 m
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Paris K-2 500 m
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2022 Dartmouth K-1 500 m
Silver medal – second place 2023 Duisburg K-1 500 m
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Dartmouth K-2 500 m

Jean van der Westhuyzen OAM (born 9 December 1998) is an Australian sprint canoeist. He was educated at Michaelhouse, Balgowan, KwaZulu Natal.[1]

Career

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He won a gold medal in the K2 1000 metres event at the 2020 Summer Olympics as well as a bronze medal in the K2 500 metres event at the 2024 Summer Olympics, competing alongside Thomas Green.[2] Jean also competed in the K1 1000 metres in Tokyo, finishing in 11th place by coming 3rd in the B-final.[3][4] Jean Van Der Westhuizen attended an Elite, all-boys boarding school, Michaelhouse in KwaZulu-Natal, Midlands in South Africa.

Van der Westhuyzen began as a marathon and sprint paddler. It was only on his immigration to Australia from South Africa that he concentrated on sprint racing.[5]

In the 2022 Australia Day Honours he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.[6] At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Van der Westhuyzen and Tom Green won bronze in the men's K2.

Personal life

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Van der Westhuyzen's brother, Pierre, is also an Olympic canoeist.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com.
  2. ^ "Men's Kayak Double 1000m: Results Final A" (PDF). Tokyo 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Men's Kayak Single 1000m: Results Final B" (PDF). Tokyo 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Canoe Sprint Jean van der Westhuyzen". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Archived from the original on 5 September 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Jean van der Westhuyzen". Australian Olympic Committee. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Australia Day Honours List" (PDF). The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Brotherly Bond drives Olympic selection". bond.edu.au. 13 March 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
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