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Jean van der Westhuyzen

b. 1998

Australian sprint kayaker

Kayaker
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About Jean van der Westhuyzen

Born 1998. Jean van der Westhuyzen is an Australian and South African kayaker.

Jean van der Westhuyzen (born 9 December 1998) is an Australian sprint canoeist. He was educated at Michaelhouse, Balgowan, KwaZulu Natal.

Career He won a gold medal in the K2 1000 metres event at the 2020 Summer Olympics as well as a bronze medal in the K2 500 metres event at the 2024 Summer Olympics, competing alongside Thomas Green. Jean also competed in the K1 1000 metres in Tokyo, finishing in 11th place by coming 3rd in the B-final. 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 to Australia from South Africa that he concentrated on sprint racing.

In the 2022 Australia Day Honours he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Van der Westhuyzen and Tom Green won bronze in the men's K2.

Personal life Van der Westhuyzen's brother, Pierre, is also an Olympic canoeist.

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Important facts

Born
9 December 1998, Cape Town
Birth century
20th century
Occupation
Kayaker
Nationality
Australia, South Africa
Education
Bond University, Michaelhouse

People in Jean van der Westhuyzen's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

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Personal
b. 1963
Computer scientist
 Portrait of Tom Green
Tom Green
b. 1971
Television presenter
 Portrait of Thomas Green
Thomas Green
b. 1999
Canoeist

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Jean van der Westhuyzen's

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Andre Geim
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b. 1958
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Gang Tian
b. 1958
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Jean Dalibard
b. 1958
Physicist
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Joanne Berger-Sweeney
b. 1958
Neuroscientist

Frequently asked questions

Who is Jean van der Westhuyzen?

Australian sprint kayaker

When was Jean van der Westhuyzen born?

Jean van der Westhuyzen was born on 9 December 1998 in Cape Town.

What is Jean van der Westhuyzen's occupation?

Jean van der Westhuyzen is a kayaker.

What nationality is Jean van der Westhuyzen?

Jean van der Westhuyzen is Australian and South African.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Jean van der Westhuyzen

· Wikidata: Q107749814

· DBpedia: Jean van der Westhuyzen

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jean van der Westhuyzen. https://biography.guide/jean-van-der-westhuyzen/

MLA: "Jean van der Westhuyzen." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jean-van-der-westhuyzen/.

Chicago: "Jean van der Westhuyzen." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jean-van-der-westhuyzen/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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