GAME ON
Leibfarth paddling at one of her favorite spots, The U.S. National Whitewater Center.
The Bryson City, N.C. native is taking a gap semester this fall but is scheduled to begin classes at Davidson College in January. She’s already looking ahead to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her hobbies include surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, freestyle kayaking, cooking, and drawing. Learn more about this dynamic young athletic at www.goevy.com. CURRENTS: When did you first know you wanted to compete in kayaking and canoe slalom? Evy: One of my earliest memories of canoe slalom is from when I was about six, and I was driving up the Nantahala Gorge to do a river run with my parents. I saw a race going on, and I begged my parents to let me go. So, I ended up signing up and paddling the course with my dad following close behind, and I just had so much fun. I definitely didn’t make all the gates but that’s one of the first experiences with slalom I had. I also competed in the 2016 Olympic Trials, and that’s definitely what made me sure that I wanted to really take my training seriously and be a part of the US National Team. I just remember there were so many spectators and such a cool atmosphere surrounding the race—that was so exciting. Later that year was the first time I competed internationally. CURRENTS: When did you start attracting attention from national and regional sponsors who wanted to partner with you? Evy: I would say probably when I started placing at National-level events, like the U.S. National Championships and our team selections. One of my first partners was the Nantahala Outdoor Center, which is centered around where I grew up. I’m really thankful for their continued support as I’ve grown in my paddling career. CURRENTS: What was the experience like competing at the Tokyo Olympics? Evy: It was such a phenomenal experience for me, really everything I had dreamed of. Being at the start line at the Olympics was such an incredible feeling, and so exciting. And staying in the village was so inspiring, and I got to meet so many other incredible athletes from other sports. Now that I’ve been to one Olympics, I’m already looking forward to the next. 46
LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | OCTOBER 2021
CURRENTS: What advice would you give other young athletes with Olympic aspirations? Evy: Keep having fun! Every single one of the athletes at the Olympics who I met was so passionate about their sport, and I know that I absolutely love mine. Getting to the Olympics takes so much hard work, including some workouts that aren’t going to be super fun in the moment, but as long as you’re having fun, you’ll be able to look at the bigger picture! CURRENTS: Where are some of your favorite places in the Lake Norman/Charlotte area for outdoor adventures? Evy: The U.S. National Whitewater Center is definitely my favorite because there’s so much to do, and I think it’s beautiful. I train there for a lot of the year, and the course is fast and technical with bright blue water, which I love, and you can raft it, too. There are also tons of trails through the woods to run or bike through, and zip lines and climbing walls, so I definitely never get bored. I also love Midtown park for running (and getting boba tea after!) CURRENTS: You plan to start classes at Davidson College in January. What attracted you to the university and what do you hope to study? Evy: I hope to study biology on a pre-med track. It’s something that’s always been super interesting to me, and I hope to do something with sports medicine to tie two of my passions together. Really, a lot attracted me to Davidson. For so long I was looking for the “perfect college” where I could train and study pre-med, and I had almost given up on the idea when my mom suggested Davidson. It turns out a lot of my friends are Davidson graduates, and they all loved attending. It really seems like the community is full of people who are truly passionate about learning while having well-rounded interests, so I look forward to being a part of that. Go Wildcats ‘25! Another LKN Olympic Connection Erika Brown, a 2016 Hough High School graduate, received a bronze medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay event in the in the Olympic Games Tokyo. She graduated from the University of Tennessee in 2020, where she was named the SEC Female Swimmer of the Year.
