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| Nationality | Australian | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1998-12-09)9 December 1998 (age 26) Cape Town, South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Canoe sprint | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Jean van der WesthuyzenOAM (born 9 December 1998) is an Australiansprint canoeist. He was educated atMichaelhouse,Balgowan, KwaZulu Natal.[1]
He won a gold medal in theK2 1000 metres event at the2020 Summer Olympics as well as abronze medal in the K2 500 metres event at the2024 Summer Olympics, competing alongsideThomas Green.[2] Jean also competed in theK1 1000 metres inTokyo, 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 toAustralia fromSouth Africa that he concentrated on sprint racing.[5]
In the2022 Australia Day Honours he was awarded theMedal of the Order of Australia.[6] At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Van der Westhuyzen and Tom Green won bronze in the men's K2.
Van der Westhuyzen's brother,Pierre, is also an Olympic canoeist.[7]
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