Victory Holly Smith. A Historic victory for Holly Smith was made on Friday, September 1. Camps Bay High School’s very own Grade 11 student, Holly Smith, hailing from Hout Bay, clinched the title of K2 (Doubles) Women’s Junior World Champion at the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in Vejen, Denmark. Holly was in partnership with Georgia Singe. They powered their way to victory in a thrilling race that captivated the world.

In a nail-biting final lap, Holly and Georgia surged ahead, defeating fierce competition from Spain, Hungary, and Great Britain to secure the Gold Medal. Their strategic brilliance and outstanding teamwork were also on full display, as they took control of the race during the portage section of the last lap, leaving their rivals trailing in their wake.

“This is an incredible achievement, not just for Holly and Georgia but for South Africa as a whole. It is also the first-ever Gold Medal for South African Junior Women. Also the first Gold Medal for South Africa at the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in 2023. We couldn’t be more thrilled,” exclaimed Camps Bay High School’s Head of Sport, Busi Ngcwama.

Go out hard and hopefully

Holly Smith, after the race, shared her exhilaration and insights into their strategy, saying, “Our plan was to go out hard and hopefully be in the front bunch and stay there for the duration of the race. When the Hungarians broke away, there was a group of three teams fighting for two medals, so we were hoping we wouldn’t get fourth place. We just carried on grinding and slowly caught the Hungarian’s wake. Our main goal was to run as hard as we could during the last portage, and we managed to break away and secure the win. We couldn’t believe it! We weren’t expecting the win.”

In addition to her K2 victory, Holly also showcased her strength in the K1 (singles) Marathon on August 31, where she earned an impressive 10th place. Holly’s remarkable dedication to her sport is evident in her daily training regimen, regardless of weather conditions. She also balances her school life by actively participating in the Water Polo and Soccer teams and contributes to the school’s service initiatives, including her role as a member of the school’s PR Team.

Camps Bay High School is bursting with pride at the monumental achievement of their student-athlete, who has now etched her name in the annals of history as the school’s first World Champion. Holly’s unwavering commitment, hard work, and passion for paddling have been truly inspirational to all who have had the privilege of watching her journey.