Samoa's Silver Medalist And Current New Zealand Number One Anne Cairns In Samoa.
Anne Cairns With Family During The South Pacific Games.
Photo: Supplied
Samoa's very own Anne Cairns who recently secured Samoa's very first
medal at the 2022 I.V.F World Sprint Championships has returned home.
The nation's water sporting star shared her story about the journey she endured in
the world of competing against all odds.
The passionate paddler who won a silver medal in the Long Distance
master 500m event, shared how excited she is to be back home and
reconnect with her roots here in Samoa. In an exclusive interview with
EyeSpy Radio on Tuesday this week, Anne is grateful of all the support
she's received thus far from her family and friends.
"The support from my family has been very overwhelming. It's a great
network of friends , they've been with me ever since , showing their
alofa and support .It's great to be back home , Samoa will always have
a place with me" said Anne.
Anne Cairns is of Samoan descent on her mothers side, Togikoko Cairns
, who hails from the villages of Salamumu and Nofoalii. She was born
and raised in New Zealand with her five siblings, and currently works
as a professional firefighter in Palmerston North. However, she is
currently living in New Plymouth with her partner Carl Barnes, and
their children Poppy Barnes and Fianlay Barnes.
Speaking on some of the adversities and challenges she faced during
her life's journey , Ms. Cairns described it as very unique, having to
work in one city, and living three hours away in another,and making it
work. She often paddles in the morning before shooting off to work
starting at 7:30am.
"I love paddling in the morning , especially when the water is calm
and steady , those are some of the best times to reset and train, but
it is also at the same time great being in the water," she told
EyeSpy Radio.
Despite having to undergo surgery in April to remove her appendix.
Cairns expressed the concerns she had about how it would affect her
racing, especially given that she would have to sit out training for
six weeks to 10 weeks.
"It shocked me and I thought this would be the downfall of my career," she said.
This setback has allowed Ms Cairns' body to reboot and rejuvenate
leading into the I.V.F World Sprint Championships last August this
year, "The time given by the doctors helped me prepare physically and
mentally for the worlds" she added.
In her future plans to further expand her career , the passionate
paddler has set out a tight regiment to push her to the limits and
test her athletic capabilities at the age of 41.
"I'll be doing the same routine that helped me in the previous years ,
and that is training hard and setting goals for me to achieve."