Jean van der Westhuyzen grew up in South Africa but has been granted Australian citizenship and will compete for Australia at the Tokyo Olympics

He was born and raised in South Africa, but Jean van der Westhuyzen now calls Australia home.

HE was born and raised in South Africa, but Jean van der Westhuyzen now calls Australia home.

Late last year, the Bond University business student was furiously balancing sport and university while also studying for his Australian citizenship test.

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The 21-year-old started paddling as a junior when his school offered the sport before moving to the Gold Coast in 2018 to train with Australia’s elite at Pizzey Park’s Australian Institute of Sport.

Late last year, van der Westhuyzen was finally awarded Australian citizenship and with it came the chance to represent his new home on the global sporting stage.

Gold Coast based paddler Jean van der Westhuyzen in action. Pic: Paddle Australia

“So much went into that and it was incredible to know that I finally had a shot at making the Olympic Games,” he said.

“Knowing that I can live in Australia and start a life here is the most important thing.

“I am extremely proud to represent Australia as the staff and athletes here on the Gold Coast have done a tremendous amount for me.

“I don’t feel shame not representing South Australia because I see my future here.”

Originally moving down under by himself, van der Westhuyzen has now been joined by his family on the Gold Coast and has he taken it upon himself to school them in “Aussie lingo.”

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The U23 World Championship K4 gold medal winner is used to living out of home, having left his family in Cape Town to attend boarding school in Durban as a teenager.

“Since a young age, I’ve always had this idea of coming to Australia,” he said.

“When I was 14, I would watch the guys on the Gold Coast race and I always looked up to them and wanted to train with them.

“I always wanted to study as well and Bond University was the best option so it all fell into place.

“I never came here purely for paddling because I had this end goal in mind of wanting to live here permanently.”

Gold Coast based paddler Jean van der Westhuyzen in action. Pic: Paddle Australia

Having sacrificed so much to pursue his Olympic dream, van der Westhuyzen will now have to wait an extra year to make his Tokyo debut after the games were postponed.

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“It’s a mixed bag of emotions,” he said.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet.

“I’m a bit impatient but once we get structured training up and going again, the motivation and drive will start to ramp up.”

Gold Coast Olympic kayaker Jean van der Westhuyzen celebrates his Tokyo Games selection. Picture: SUPPLIED

Adding additional training incentive is the rapid rise of van der Westhuyzen’s younger brother Pierre who recently impressed with silver at the U18 sprint nationals.

“He’s not a morning person so I’ve got him covered for now,” van der Westhuyzen joked.

“He’s got a lot of talent and time to grow and if he commits, I’ll always support him.”