At just 19 years old, Montrealer Hannah Stopnicki is turning tides in the world of water skiing, clinching a world title once again.
The athlete won gold in the U21 Women’s Trick event at the IWWF World U21 Waterski Championships, in Calgary, Alberta back on Aug. 3.
This second world title of hers comes just two years after CityNews first introduced you to the athlete when she won gold at the U17 World Championships, in Chile.
Now taking this year’s win in her home country – made her Canadian proud.
“I’m like on cloud nine,” said Stopnicki. “I heard the announcer call me world champion and I was shocked.”
A post shared by Hannah Stopnicki (@hannah.stopnicki)
“It was the best feeling in the world,” explained the 19-year-old. “I jumped and I hugged my dad and then I like went to hug my mom and I accidentally tackled her and then we fell on the floor, and I was crying and it was just, it was so amazing.”
Stopnicki’s parents mean a lot to her journey.
She credits them, her coaches and fellow athletes for helping her get to the level she’s at today — currently ranked 10th in the world in Open Women’s Trick.
“I wouldn’t be here without anybody,” said said. “I definitely put in the work. I definitely don’t give up, but also people don’t give up on me, which is really important.”
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At just two years old Stopnicki was already water skiing on lakes in Quebec.
Fast forward to today – she trains in Florida and is ready to keep making a splash in the sport — selected to represent Canada at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games.
This fall, Stopnicki is ready to also represent the country at the IWWF Open World Waterski Championships in Italy.
And while she’s a pro at doing tricks on the water, what is her trick to achieving ones dream?
“I would definitely say never be afraid of failure,” she explained. “It’s not easy, it’s like the biggest battle in sport and also in life.”
“If you’re too afraid of failure, you hold on to the idea of winning too tight and that’s when it’s really easy for it to slip away,” she added. “The best thing you can do is make a plan, make a goal. “
“Then once you set that goal, decide and never, never back down.”
