Hi, I’m Henrik Neuspiel, a 16-year-old competitive sprint kayaker living in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. My journey started through legacy of my dad, a former national team sprint kayaker, who ignited my passion for the sport, along with my mom, a former Team Canada water polo player. I got into paddling at around 8 years old, through summer camps. I instantly fell in love and have pursued the sport competitively since age 11.

After winning races at the provincial and national championships, I am currently gearing up for the U16 World Championships in Poland, where I have a goal to make the final and clinch a top 10 placement in the world—fueling my Olympic dream. Along with sprint kayaking, I have played competitive hockey for the last 12 years. I have played as high as AA as a defenceman. I have also been on competitive teams for rugby, basketball, volleyball, track & field, cross country ski and cross country, all through high school.

During my recovery periods, I LOVE to watch TV. My favourite TV show is by far The Office and I have watched the entire series 8 times now. The best movie I have ever seen is definitely Interstellar as I love all of the science behind the alternate universe and the wormhole/black holes. My favourite book is The Science of Interstellar because it took my favourite movie, and gave me a more detailed background of everything that happens.

Outside of athletics, my academic pursuits bring me to the crossroads of engineering and human anatomy. Fueled by a fascination for both fields, I’ve jumped into the realm of gene editing, and exploring the potential to revolutionize biotech innovation. In the future, I envision a career where I’m climbing the ranks within a biotech company where I can build products that have the ability to impact a large number of lives.