Hannah Vaughan

Biography

For as long as Hannah Vaughan can remember, she has had an Olympic dream. It’s why she chose paddling over swimming when she was forced to make a decision between her two sports for Nova Scotia’s 2005 Canada Games team. It was the right call, as she won three gold medals and a bronze. She brought swimming back into her life in 2008 when she joined the Dalhousie Tigers varsity team. In 2012 Vaughan competed at the Canadian Olympic Trials, finishing fifth in the K-1 500m. She got onto the World Cup team in 2013 after placing third in the K-1 200m at the national team trials. She capped that season with one of her favourite races at the World Championships when she and her K-4 500m crewmates finished sixth for Canada’s best result in the event in a decade. Vaughan was back on the World Cup circuit in 2014 in the K-4 and K-2 events. She raced the K-4 500m at the World Championships, where Canada won the B Final to finish 10^th overall.

PERSONAL

Family: Parents Andrew and Elaine… Younger brother Paddy is also a competitive paddler… Getting into the Sport: Started paddling at age 4 with Kiddie Canoe at Banook Canoe Club… Outside Interests: Graduated from Dalhousie University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts (double major political science and history)… Was on the varsity swim team after a three year hiatus from just focusing on paddling; specialized in the 40om IM and 800m freeestyle because they helped prepare her for the upcoming paddling season… Plans to pursue a Master’s degree… Enjoys cooking, hiking, reading, cats, and just learning in general… Odds and Ends: Was nicknamed Darth Vaughan on the Dalhouse Tigers swim team for her competitiveness…

NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

ICF WCh: 2014 – 10^th (K-4 500m); 2013 – 6^th (K-4 500m)

PAC: 2009 – SILVER (K-4 500m), GOLD (K-2 200m), GOLD (K-2 1000m), SILVER (K-4 200m)