(2016 ☆ ARCHIVED) Kyeta Purchase - South Africa
KYETA PURCHASE (South Africa) - Nominee for 2016 'Sports Junior' of the Year.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kyetap
- Born: 1998; Disciplines: Canoe Sprint, Marathon, Ocean Racing; Represents: South Africa
- 2016: 2nd in Senior K2 and 3rd Junior K1 at World Marathon Championships; 1st K2 Dusi Marathon; 1st U18 Berg River Marathon
- 2015: 1st (New Record) U23 Fish River Marathon; 1st U18 Ocean Racing World Championships; 4th Junior K1 World Marathon Championships
Over the last two years Kyeta Purchase has exploded onto the paddling scene in South Africa and around the world. The 17 year old already has a long list of amazing results but it was her silver medal in the senior K2 category at this years canoe marathon world championships that announced her onto the international stage.
On top of her successes in the marathon discipline, Kyeta is equally comfortable in a sprint boat and a surf ski. She was introduced to paddling through her involvement in Surf Lifesaving, where she was selected to represent her country, and her club, at the junior world rescue championships in 2014, held in France. She soon established herself as a gritty and determined competitor and was spotted, and asked to join the MacSquad - a squad of marathon paddlers coached by the father of 8 times world marathon champion, Hank McGregor, Lee McGregor.
In 2015, after winning numerous medals at the regional and national sprint and marathon championships, Kyeta was selected to represent South Africa at the World Marathon Championships in Gyor, where she came 4th in the junior category. She then went on to finish in 5th position in the senior womens K2. Soon after her return, she won the Fish River Canoe Marathon in the U23 class, setting a new record. Kyeta was also selected to represent South Africa at the World Ocean Racing Championships, held in Tahiti in 2015. She was the first U18 across the line, and came 4th in the U23 division
But in the 2016 season Kyeta really came into her own. Early in the year, she set a new record whilst on her way to winning the iconic Dusi Canoe Marathon in a K2. She again picked up numerous gold medals at the national sprint championships (U18) and was 1st U18 at the 4 day Berg River Marathon. In the ocean racing series she completely dominated her age group, often attaining podium positions in the senior category. At the regional and national marathon championships Kyeta won gold in the K1 (U18) and won the U23 K2 title (coming 2nd in the senior race).
Kyeta was therefore selected to represent South Africa at the World Marathon Championships in Brandenburg where she came 3rd in the junior K1. Two days after this podium finish, Kyeta stepped up into the senior category where she managed an incredible 2nd place overall in the ladies K2 race, together with Jenna Ward. One of the first ever senior medals in the sport to have been won by a junior.
Kyeta has been an inspiration and an example to young paddlers from her home country and abroad, and is an asset to her club and federation.
This is a 2016 archived nominee. Voting has closed.
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