Hannah van Kampen is well known in both domestic and international cycling circles as a talented rider in her own right. Hannah represented New Zealand in a number of squads including Under 19 to women’s elite. She has also competed on the European circuit.
Hannah moved up to Cambridge at the end of 2015 to join the New Zealand Para Cycling squad as a reserve sighted pilot of visually impaired Para cyclist Emma Foy. Since that time Hannah has ridden with both Emma and Para cyclist Amanda Cameron.
Hannah and Amanda competed at the 2016 UCI Para Cycling Track World Championships achieving two top 10 finishes. The highlight was a 5th and personal best in the Women’s 3km Pursuit, a great result for a new tandem pairing.
2016 continued to be a year of success. Hannah and Amanda were selected to the New Zealand Paralympic Team making their debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. In the heat and intensity of the velodrome the pairing produced personal bests and two top 6 placings. Hannah and Amanda were part of the New Zealand Paralympic Team that won a stunning 21 medals across 12 individual medallists in 2016 (9 gold, 5 silver and 7 bronze). The Team finished first in the world per capita and 13th in the world overall (previous best: 16th).
Hannah officially received her ‘numbered’ Paralympic pin as part of The Celebration Project in Hamilton in June 2019.
