At the World Championships, which took place in Bourg St. Maurice, France, Giddens competed against forty-seven athletes from twenty different countries while defeating her closest competitor by 2.2 seconds.

Giddens is the first U.S Slalom World Champion since David Hearn garnered the C-1 title in 1995. Also in 2002, Giddens placed first K-1W in the U.S team trials in Wausau, Wis., first K-1W in the World Cup #4 held in Prague, Czech Rep., and sixth in the K-1W World Cup #2 in Augsburg, Germany.

Although Rebeeca Giddens has captured the World Champion title, nothing is stopping her now. Giddens intends on training hard, keeping her body in tact and making sure she is ready for the 2004 Olympics.

Q1: When/how did you get involved with Kayaking?

REBECCA GIDDENS: I was 10 years old when I first got into kayaking. It was at a local camp and my whole family was involved. The instructor of the camp was also a slalom racer and he spent a great deal of time with my family. After the camp was over he continued to travel and instruct us. We started out on local rivers then gradually advancing to rivers nation and even worldwide

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Q2: If someone knew absolutely nothing about kayaking and wanted to try the sport, what would you tell them?

REBECCA GIDDENS: The sport takes place on a whitewater river and there are about twenty gates that you have to maneuver through along the river. A beginner should practice and get a feel for the boat on land before moving onto the river. You have to be able to roll over if your boat flips or else you will be in trouble. Beginners should also start out on a flat-water river before gradually moving up to whitewater.

Q3: What were you thinking going into the World Championships in Bourg St. Maurice, France?

REBECCA GIDDENS: I knew that I had a chance to do well at the Championships, but I also knew that it was difficult course. The whole time I thought about my own run instead of focusing on what other competitors were doing. I concentrated on each gate ahead of me and instead of focusing on going my fastest, I focused on doing my best.

Q4: If you could be any animal what would you be and why?

REBECCA GIDDENS: I think I would definitely be a rabbit. When I was younger we would sit around the dinner table and my father would ask us what we wanted to be when we grew up. My brother always said he wanted to own a candy store and my sister wanted to be a doctor. I, on the other hand, said I wanted to be a rabbit; my father always told me that wasn't possible. It's kind of funny because today my brother owns his own store and my sister is pursuing a career in the medical field.

Q5: If you could meet and have dinner with any person, dead or alive, who would you choose and why?

REBECCA GIDDENS: I think I would definitely choose Susan B. Anthony. She is a distant, distant, distant relative of mine and I really admire her. I respect her feminist viewpoints and I really enjoy reading about her. She is really just a fascinating woman.

Q6: How do you motivate or "psych" yourself before a competition?

REBECCA GIDDENS: I really just go back to the essence of why I started paddling in the first place. My passion for the sport really motivates me to work hard. I don't concentrate on the other competitors. Being in a peaceful state enables me to perform better.

Q7: Who is your biggest inspiration and why?

REBECCA GIDDENS: I would definitely say that my husband, Eric Giddens, is my biggest inspiration. We support each other tremendously and having each other there is great. We share training practices and he is such a huge part of my success.

Q8: If MTV Cribs came to your house what would be the first room you would take them to and why?

REBECCA GIDDENS: I would first take them to our family room. Every time we travel to a new country we make sure to buy something that represents that certain place. We keep all our memorabilia in the family room. It's really interesting.

Q9: What do you like to do in your free time?

REBECCA GIDDENS: I really enjoy working in my garden. I like to water my plants and pick weeds. I know it sounds kind of weird but that's what I like to do. I also enjoy board surfing, rock climbing and mountain biking.

Q10: Do you have a motivational quote or words that you live by?

REBECCA GIDDENS: I am a strong believer in living each day to the fullest and not taking things for granted.