Stepping into a dragon boat is like clockwork for Joanne Cowan.
As Cowan and her 19 other teammates begin to paddle, she slowly ticks off the mental checklist that she learned in training to make sure sheB次元官网网址檚 performing at her best.
Rotate and reach forward as far as you can, catch the water, pull through and exit with a push, before retaking your paddle.
| Langford's Joanne Cowan shows off her gold medal during the 13 World Nations Dragon Boat Championships in Kunming, China recently. Cowan and the senior C women's team won gold in the 200 metre, 500m and two kilometre races. (Contributed photo) |
ItB次元官网网址檚 that formula that led the Langford resident and the Canadian senior C womenB次元官网网址檚 team (age 60 plus) to three gold medals in the two kilometre and the 200 and 500 metres races during the 13th World Nations Dragon Boat Championships in Kunming, China recently.
B次元官网网址淲e were pretty excited,B次元官网网址� said Cowan, who is part of the Gorging Dragons that are based out of the Vancouver Island Paddling Club. B次元官网网址淚t was very interesting to see and learn how other people do it and see the results. It was fun, I really enjoyed it.B次元官网网址�
SaanichB次元官网网址檚 Rob Stubbington and NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 Jody Berry were also on the team to bring home gold.
CowanB次元官网网址檚 journey to the championships began months ago, when she first applied to qualify for the team. In addition to attending a training camp last fall, Cowan also had to complete monthly time trials, as well as physical fitness examinations.
Once she had been selected to the team, training intensified. Cowan practiced several days a week, and even travelled to Vancouver weekly to train with the teamB次元官网网址檚 coach.
Her hard work paid off in China during the championships, which are held every second year and considered to be the pinnacle of competition in the sport.
Now, with three gold medals under her belt, Cowan hopes to continue competing. The Gorging DragonsB次元官网网址� senior C, as well as senior B have qualified to go to Szeged, Hungary in July, which Cowan plans to try out for.
Cowan wasnB次元官网网址檛 the only one to find success in China. VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Tom Arnold, Mike Weirmier and Matthew Michaelis won gold in the 500 metre and 2,000 metre senior A mixed category, as well as silver in the 200 and 1,00 metre races. In total, Canada brought home 28 gold medals, 13 silver and eight bronze.
B次元官网网址淲e are very proud of our athletes and their well-deserved medals. ItB次元官网网址檚 spectacular to see them dominate so many events, and prove what a world class source of athletes Vancouver Island is,B次元官网网址� said Gabby Kalaw, vice president of VI Paddling.
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