A proud Samoan woman, Anne Cairns, has walked away from the International Va'a Federation (IVF) 2022 World Sprints in the United Kingdom with a silver medal, having watched on proudly as the Samoan flag was hoisted among the medal winners.

In the final of the Master 40 Women V1 500 race, she finished just three seconds behind Canada's Leanne Stanley who took home gold with Kiwi Campbell of New Zealand taking home the bronze. 

Her achievement made her family and Samoa very proud.

A fiend, Moana Evans, took to social media to congratulate the medal winner.

"Proud is an absolute understatement for my uso right here Anne Cairns," she posted. "I am also beyond grateful that Samoa has such a humble and determined ambassador at the International Va'a Federation World Sprint Championships!"

Sixteen countries participated and Cairns medal placed Samoa 11th of the medal tally.

Based in New Zealand, Cairns' international paddling career spans more than 20 years. She is a firefighter by profession and has represented Samoa at the Olympics.

Raised in Palmerston North, Cairns began her sporting journey as a swimmer and surf lifesaver before taking up paddling. 

During a previous interview with the Locker Room, she said she was inspired by Kiwi star, Lisa Carrington.

“Watching Lisa gave me the thought that the next time the Olympics comes around [in Rio 2016], I could race for Samoa and give qualification a crack through the Oceania spot,” says Cairns. “My mum is Samoan, I’ve always had a huge connection with Samoa and to be able to represent Samoa is as important to me as racing for New Zealand.”

The IVF was established back in 1981. The IVF world Championships are held every year, They have the ‘Elite and Club World Sprint Championships’ on even years and ‘World Distance Championships’ on odd years and as the governing body for the Va'a Federation it now has about 35 country members and member areas.

Originally the federation was called the International Polynesian Canoe Federation (IPCF) before changing the association name in order to better suit other Oceanian regions that also share heritage to the canoe, particularly applying to Melanesia and Micronesia.

The name was to reflect on the designation of the canoe, where the original name had to be used. After much deliberation and discussion, the association decided to adopt the name "Va'a" as the international designation for the outrigger canoe. Thus the previous federation name International Polynesian Canoe Federation (IPCF) was renamed.