SEIPEL Susan

Date of Birth: 4 Apr 1986

Age: 35

Gender: Female

Sport Class: KL2,VL2

Place of birth: IPSWICH, QLD

Birth Country:

Australia

Place of residence : AUSTRALIA

Events and Medals
Records
Schedule
Bio
General Interest
Milestones

Events and Medals

Discipline	Event	Rank	Medal
Canoe Sprint	Women's Kayak Single 200m - KL2	7
	Women's Va'a Single 200m - VL2	2

Schedule

Start Time	Location	Event	Status
	Sea Forest Waterway	Women's Va'a Single 200m - VL2 Heat 2 #4	Finished
	Sea Forest Waterway	Women's Kayak Single 200m - KL2 Heat 1 #11	Finished
	Sea Forest Waterway	Women's Va'a Single 200m - VL2 Final A #29	Finished
	Sea Forest Waterway	Women's Kayak Single 200m - KL2 Semi-final 1 #36	Finished
	Sea Forest Waterway	Women's Kayak Single 200m - KL2 Final A #45	Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

Rank	Event	Year	Location	Result
Paralympic Games
3	Kayak Single 200m - KL2	2016	Rio de Janeiro, BRA	56.796
World Championships
1	Va'a Single 200m - VL2	2017	Racice, CZE	1:02.897
1	Va'a Single 200m - VL2	2016	Duisburg, GER	1:02.960
1	Va'a Single 200m - VL2	2015	Milan, ITA	59.916
2	Va'a Single 200m - VL2	2019	Szeged, HUN	57.74
3	Kayak Single 200m - KL2	2019	Szeged, HUN	51.12
3	Kayak Single 200m - KL2	2016	Duisburg, GER	57.032
3	Kayak Single 200m - KL2	2015	Milan, ITA	55.616
4	Va'a Single 200m - VL2	2018	Montemor-o-Velho, POR	1:02.047
4	Kayak Single 200m - KL2	2017	Racice, CZE	53.525
6	Kayak Single 200m - KL2	2018	Montemor-o-Velho, POR	59.477
6	Women's K1 200m TA	2014	Moscow, RUS	56.686

Snoozen (canoeicf.com, 01 Jan 2018)

Travel, movies, tennis, reading, working with animals, charity work. (canoeicf.com, 01 Jan 2018)

Occupation:

Athlete, Volunteer, Writer

Science - University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AUS

Languages spoken:

Brisbane Canoeing Club [Australia]

Other sports:

She has competed in Para equestrian dressage at international level. She also participated in able-bodied swimming at national age group level in Australia. (susanseipel.com, 06 Feb 2020; SportsDeskOnline, 07 May 2019; The Queensland Times, 28 Jun 2016)

She first tried Para canoe in 2012. (The Queensland Times, 28 Jun 2016)

She had previously competed in Para equestrian dressage at international level. "Unfortunately it was very expensive and I was relying on my parents to fund my dreams of riding. I was spending all my money on horses and didn't have any money to move out of home or support myself, so reality hit. Canoeing happened very randomly. I found out about a come and try canoeing day being held by Olympian Amanda Rankin. She told me about the Para canoeing community and connected me with coach Andrea King, and then it was love at first stroke." (lizcantor.com, 07 Jul 2016)

To compete at the Paralympic Games in 2020 and 2024. (paddle.org.au, 25 Aug 2020)

Winning bronze in the KL2 200m at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and claiming a gold medal and a bronze medal at the 2015 World Championships in Milan, Italy. (canoeicf.com, 01 Jan 2018)

Swiss tennis player Roger Federer. (paralympic.org.au, 01 Jan 2016)

Her mother. (canoeicf.com, 01 Jan 2018)

Philosophy:

"The tough moments are difficult to deal with at the time but they can also show you what you are really made of and how strong you really are. Working hard, being persistent, and adaptable to change has helped me overcome the tough moments and achieve my goals." (movenourishbelieve.com, 07 Feb 2017)

In 2015, 2016, and 2017 she received the Australian Canoeing Award of Merit. (LinkedIn profile, 01 Oct 2019; paddleshop.com.au, 03 Jan 2018)

In 2017 she was named Canoeist of the Year by Queensland Canoeing in Australia. (LinkedIn profile, 01 Oct 2019; paddleshop.com.au, 03 Jan 2018)

She was named the 2014 Senior Female Athlete of the Year by the Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association in Queensland, Australia. (basketball.net.au, 26 Nov 2014)

She received the 2010 Para Rider of the Year Award from Equestrian Queensland in Australia. (susanseipel.com, 27 Nov 2010)

She received the Coates Sports Award at the 2007 Queensland Young Achiever Awards in Australia. (susanseipel.com, 22 Sep 2007)

General Interest

Classification
KL2 (canoeicf.com, 23 Sep 2020)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (susanseipel.com, 06 Feb 2020; lizcantor.com, 07 Jul 2016)

Impairment Details
She was born with arthrogryposis multiplex, a rare condition characterised by the fusion of joints and a lack of muscle formation in the legs. "It affects my mobility, so I spend my time using a wheelchair or crutches and splints to walk. I had to undergo many operations as a child, my first at only four weeks old. Growing up I was admitted to the children's hospital 13 times before my 15th birthday." (susanseipel.com, 06 Feb 2020; coolcrutches.com, 02 Dec 2019; lizcantor.com, 07 Jul 2016)

General
OTHER ACTIVITIES
She has served as an ambassador for The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals [RSPCA] Queensland, an animal welfare charity based in Brisbane, Australia. "I am passionate about animal welfare and a proud ambassador for the RSPCA Queensland. So, whenever I get the chance I love volunteering and helping this cause. I am a cat foster carer and, in the past, I have volunteered at the RSPCA Wildlife Hospital, who help rehabilitate native animals such as koalas, kookaburras, and possums after being injured." (Instagram profile, 29 Sep 2020; coolcrutches.com, 02 Dec 2019)

PARA EQUESTRIAN
She took up horse riding at age seven as a form of physiotherapy at the McIntyre Centre Riding for the Disabled in Australia, and started competing in Para equestrian dressage at age 12. She decided to take a break from dressage in 2010 because the sport was so expensive, but also hopes to start riding again as she gets older. "I started competing in dressage at age 12. I went to 13 national championships, and won two of them. In 2008 I was on the shortlist in a selection event [for the Paralympic Games in Beijing] but didn't make the team. In 2010 I took a break because the sport was so expensive. I thought I could go back to it. Equestrian is a sport you can still do well in your senior years." (podcasts.apple.com, 26 Aug 2020; coolcrutches.com, 02 Dec 2019)

OCCUPATION
She has worked as a freelance writer at Invacare Corporation, a medical equipment manufacturer and distributor in Australia. (invacare.com.au, 17 Aug 2020; LinkedIn profile, 01 Oct 2019)

Social Media

https://www.facebook.com/susan.seipel.16
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/susanseipel.paralympian/
https://instagram.com/susanseipel.paralympian/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-seipel/
https://twitter.com/susanseipel
Athlete Website: http://www.susanseipel.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/ratherberiding86

Legend

:: Silver Medal
:: Gold Medal Event
:: Silver Medal Event
:: Bronze Medal Event

Timing and scoring provided by OMEGA. Results powered by Atos