Jean van der Westhuyzen – Canoe/Kayak – 2020
Bachelor of Business
Jean van der Westhuyzen’s decision to migrate to Australia from South Africa in 2018 delivered him two significant prizes – an Olympic gold medal and a Bond University degree.
“It felt like a dream,” the gold-medal-winning kayaker says of training with the legends he grew up watching from across the Indian Ocean. “I never felt like I could actually do it – come to Australia, study and graduate from Bond University and train with the squad. It is unbelievable.”
Van der Westhuyzen began as a marathon paddler before concentrating on sprint racing in the wake of his move to Australia. That decision paved the way for him to join forces with Gold Coaster Tom Green and establish themselves as the country’s premier combination over the K2 1000m distance.
After winning selection for the 2020 Olympics, the pair travelled to Tokyo and proved unstoppable as they powered their way to the gold medal at their debut Olympics.
Since graduating from Bond University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Business, van der Westhuyzen has pursued a career in the ever-changing financial sector with an interest in blue-chip companies, private equity and startups.
He has also been wholeheartedly embraced by his new country, receiving the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2022 Australia Day Honours.