Benn Fraker
Birthplace: Rome, Ga.
Current Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Discipline/Event: Slalom Canoe, C-1
Birthdate: 2/23/1989
Height: 6'1"
College: Georgia State University
Coach: Cathy Hearn
Career Highlights:
- 2008 Olympian
- 6th at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
- 4-time consecutive U.S. National Champion (2007-2010)
- 3rd in 2008 World Cup overall standings
- 13th in 2007 World Cup Rankings
- 2005 Junior Pre-Worlds Champion
- Fifth at the 2006 Junior World Championships
- First C-1 boat on the Senior National Team
Recent Results
- 2011 US National Slalom Team Member
- Reached the finals at 2011 Slalom World Cup No. 2, placing 7th
- Reached the semifinals at 2011 Slalom World Cup No. 3
- Placed 22nd among Men's Canoes in final 2011 ICF World Cup Standings
- 2011 National Champion in Men's Canoe. Read about it HERE.
- Family: Parents - Tom and Marsha Fraker; brother - Davis; sister - Addie...Father was a recreational kayaker and got him interested in the sport.
- Hobbies: bike riding, reading, writing, all sports, hanging out with my family
- Music in iPod: Modest Mouse, Saul Williams, Elliott Smith
- Favorite TV show: "The Office"
For more information about Benn, please visit his official website at www.bennfraker.com.
Most athletes struggle to make the jump from the junior level to the senior level, but Fraker has already accomplished it, winning the U.S. Team Trials in 2007 and being named the first boat on the Senior National Team.
A win at the Junior Pre-Worlds in 2005 was huge for Benn and the U.S. team as he was matched up against the best juniors in the worlds. Benn has a great chance to continue the U.S.'s rich legacy of success in slalom canoe. Benn is coached by Cathy Hearn (a multi-time world champion and the USACK Canoe Coach) and her brother Davey Hearn (3-time Olympian and 2-time world champion), both home-grown athletes/coaches.
