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Anna Hemmings (Kayak) |
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Anna Hemmings, Britain’s leading female marathon canoeist, current World and European Champion was told by medical experts she might never race again, suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). This year however, she signalled a miraculous return to fitness by regaining her status as the World’s leading marathon canoeist at the Marathon Racing World Championships in Perth, Australia. It was her fourth gold medal in the 13 year history of the event, and her ninth World and European Championship medal, confirming her status as Britain’s most successful ever female canoeist. Anna’s achievements were recognised at the 2005 Sunday Times Sports Woman of the Year Awards where she won the Champions Award.
Anna first broke into the top flight of the sport in 1997 when, at the age of just 20, she won the European Championship. In 1999 she successfully defended her European crown, before adding to her European successes by winning the Marathon World Championships – becoming the youngest ever competitor to do so. She also became the first ever British female canoeist to win both European and World titles.
She participated in the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 where she competed in the 500m singles discipline. The following year Anna really made her mark at the Marathon Canoeing World Championship when she became only the second person in the history of the sport to win both the singles and the doubles Marathon world titles.
Anna has won a total of 8 World and European Championship medals, 6 of them being gold!
Click here to view her website!
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