PARIS, France — Seattle’s Nevin Harrison became the first American woman ever to win a gold medal in sprint canoe at the Tokyo Olympics. Now, 22-year-old Harrison is back at the Summer Olympic Games in search of another victory.
Harrison competes in Heat 2 of the C-1 200-meter canoe sprint at 1:40 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 8.
Here are five things to know about Nevin Harrison:
1. Harrison won her first Olympic gold medal at 19 years old
In 2021, Harrison came in first in the 200-meter canoe sprint with a time of 45.9 seconds. Canada took the silver medal, and Ukraine secured the bronze. The first-place win crowned Harrison the first American woman to win an Olympic canoe or kayak title.
"When you are out on the water, nothing can really affect you from the outside," Harrison previously told KING 5. "It's just this ultimate, tranquil calmness you can't find anywhere else."
A gold medal reflects all the work it took to earn it, even if most people don't see that.
"People don't understand the work that gets put in behind the scenes," Harrison said. "People don't realize how many hours it is. How exhausting, how much time and energy and heart you have to put in, I think people just see the shiny good parts and they don't see the parts that really suck."
2. She grew up in western Washington
Harrison trained for several years with the Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Racing Team and then graduated from Seattle's Roosevelt High School.
3. Harrison is pursuing a career in medicine
The 22-year-old is in her final semesters at San Diego State University and is pursuing a career in medicine. She is also fluent in Spanish.
4. She loved riding her motorcycle
Harrison’s hobbies include surfing, motorbiking and modeling. She purchased a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R in 2022, but it was stolen in December, according to Team USA. In hindsight, she said, the loss was for the best.
“I think in a way it was kind of a blessing in disguise because it took that option away where, even though I wasn’t riding as much anymore, I was actually forced to not ride, which sucked at the time,” Harrison told Team USA. “But looking back now, knowing where I’m at, I think that it was kind of the best thing that could happen.”
5. Her fastest time made history
In 2021, she also set the Olympic Record time of 44.938 in the 200-meter canoe sprint.
