Yorkshire Evening Post, 10 September 2009
By Vicki Robinson
Leeds freestyle kayaking star Claire O'Hara has achieved her lifelong dream – and been crowned the sport's world champion.
Claire, 27, from Meanwood, has just returned victorious from the World Freestyle Kayaking Championships in Thun, Switzerland.
Clutching her gold medal, she said: "I was really hoping to come back with the World Championship gold but you never really know.
"I trained my hardest to go out there and do my best but it was up in the air until the finals."
At the last contest in 2007, Claire came within touching distance of the coveted title but a water surge dashed her hopes and she had to settle for silver.
Claire, who has been squirt kayaking for 12 years and on the British team for four, is also the reigning British and European Freestyle Kayak champion.
She is now aiming to defend her title at the British Championships in Nottinghamshire in three weeks' time. She said: "It's straight back into training and straight back into the water."
Squirt kayaking is like a white-water rafting version of the sport and uses a lighter kayak.
Claire and her fellow competitors are among those calling for it to be made an Olympic sport.
Because it is not at present, there is no central funding for the sport and Claire has to raise money herself as well as relying on well-wishers for donations and sponsorship.
She pays for her living costs as a part-time sports co-ordinator at Notre Dame Sixth Form College in Leeds but needs to find money to train at the national centre in Nottingham.
Claire said: "I'm really grateful to everyone who helps me. I couldn't do it without them."