Freya Peters (OE2012-2019)
Last summer, after leaving Emanuel, I trained very hard in kayaking and became Great Britain national champion in marathon kayaking. I came 12th in the K1 1000m at the Sprint World Championships in Romania. I also attended the Marathon World Championships in Shaoxing, China in October but unfortunately I was ill and had to retire from the race.
In January, I flew out to New Zealand to join Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service and Surf Lifesaving Club. Here I have been participating in a new sport for me which involves race paddling a sea kayak through the waves, a board which you paddle on your knees, swimming and running. I have really enjoyed learning this sport and competed for the club in the New Zealand National Championships. In this time, I have also became a qualified surf lifeguard and have been taking part in beach patrols.
I am now stuck over here due to the Coronavirus but I’m living right on the beach so feeling very lucky to be here. I’m planning on spending the next couple of months here and then returning to the UK to start studying Geography at Nottingham University in September and return to competitive paddling at home.