2018 Doriane Delassus - France

Doriane Delassus (France) – Nominee for 2018 Junior of the Year

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Born: 2002, Represents: France, Sport: Canoe Slalom 

The most successful canoe/kayak athlete at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, France’s Doriane Delassus picked up both gold and silver medals in the women’s Canoe Slalom competitions. Adding to the shine of her accomplishments is the fact that she was only 15 years old at the time of the games.

To her delight, Delassus won silver in the women’s kayak Slalom obstacle, but went one better the very next day, by holding out Germany’s Zola Lewandowski to win the women’s Canoe Slalom obstacle gold.

“I still don’t realize that I have won it,” Delassus said at the time. “I’m in a hurry to go back to France and show my medal to my family and friends.” The teenager, who turns 16 in November 2018, said she felt relaxed before the canoe final after winning silver in the kayak the previous day.

“I wanted to do better than yesterday, but I was already really happy because I already had a medal,” Delassus said. “I was a little more calm today, because I had already a medal, so if I didn’t get anything today, I already had something.”

Athletes from 16 countries and all five continents won canoe medals over the four days of competition in Buenos Aires.