Canoe Racing World Champs. Holly Smith is in Grade 10 at Camps Bay High School. She bagged the Silver Medal in the Junior (U19) Women’s Event at the 2022 ICF Canoe (Kayak/Surf Ski) Ocean Racing. This was at the Canoe Racing World Champs held at Viana Do Castelo, Portugal.

At just 16 years old, Holly is also the youngest member of the South African Team. She was also given the honour of being the flag bearer for the South African Team. This was at the Canoe Marathon World Championships held last week, also in Portugal. At the Canoe Marathon World Championships, she finished in 9th place in the K2 and 14th place in the K1 events.

Said Camps Bay HIgh School’s Head of Sport, Busi Ngcwama, “Holly is more at home in the ocean racing events. Having grown up with the ocean on her doorstep and as an active member of the Llandudno Surf Lifesaving Club so really was able to show of her skills in the Ocean Racing World Championships.”

Holly finished in second place in the Junior (U19) Women’s Event in a time of 01.35.09.73. She just managed to beat the Australian, Jasmine Rayward, who finished in a time of 01:35:10:50. Holly’s team mate from South Africa, Durban based, Saskia Hockly, took top honours in a time of 1.32.00.95.