“It was a Race of a Lifetime” Samoa’s Gold Medalist Annie Cairns

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 17 AUGST 2023: Annie Cairns has won Samoa’s first Gold Medal in the International Va’a Federation (IVF) World Distance Championship currently hosted in Samoa.

She competed in the V1 Master Women 40 and claimed first place and first gold for Samoa against Hawaii who claimed silver and Germany the Bronze.

Cairns is no stranger to water sport as she had been competing for 25 years and 10 of those years representing Samoa internationally in kayaking.

“It was a race of a lifetime. When everything comes together on the day like your health, strength, your pacing, I could not give it anymore and everything just worked and it’s the most amazing feeling,” said Cairns.

“It is something I would never ever forget.”

Prior to the race, she was asked why this competition would be different from others she had competed in internationally.

“This time I will compete in my home ground and have the support of the people and my country behind me,” she said.

Annie Cairns crossing the line to win Gold for Samoa.

That she had as evident during the medal presentation when all Samoans on the field came together to sing the national anthem as Samoa’s flag was raised for the first time since the competition started on Monday and followed by an impromptu siva tau performed by several young men.

Cairns described yesterday’s competition as “full on” despite the delay and the change of course, but it was just a matter of adapting to all the changes and at the end of the day she knew she had to save energy to get through the four laps.

“The Hawaiian rower came close near the end, and I just had to give everything that was left,” she said.

The race was for 16km but because the conditions were rough in the ocean, they had to race inside but realized that the tide was too low to go along at Mulinu’u.

On Monday she competed in the V1 Women Open and came 5^th and is a reserve for the upcoming V6 Master 60 races.

Cairns represented Samoa in the IVF World Sprint in London last year where she competed with some of the same paddlers and won silver.

Asked what the next step would be, she said return home, relax then start training for the South Pacific Games in Solomon Islands in November 2023 again representing Samoa.

Annie Cairns (left front row) off to a good start of the V1 Women 40 race.

Incorporate Va’a competition in national events.
The va’a or alo paopao is not a very popular sport in Samoa but with the exposure it has received from the current competition, Cairns believes it could be a start for developing interest within the community.

“This is the start as the va’a is more visible to more people now and although the World sprints was held here in 1994, the exposure now is incredible,” she said.

She said the sport can help with fitness, mental and social health and that’s why so many travel all over the world.

“It is a paddling connection to our history, aiga, environment and to me it is the ultimate sport that can only be built from here. It can be included in Samoa’s annual Calendar of Events especially that you have the boats here now,” said Cairns.

A young Samoan salutes Annie Cairns efforts by performing the Sivatau as Germany’s silver medalist looks on.