Avery DeWitt, 13, and Grace VanZandwijk, 15, from Stratford (Ont.) Christian Reformed Church, earned silver and bronze medals with Team Canada at the World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany, July 16-20.
The silver medal was for the under-16 200-meter women's race; and the team earned bronze in four other races—women’s 500-, 1000-, and 2,000-meter and mixed 200-meter.
VanZandwijk started dragon boating four years ago, and DeWitt started two years ago.
The two were chosen for the Canadian team along with six other Stratford youth after they attended a testing camp in Pickering, Ont., in October 2024. At the camp they impressed the national team coaches with their strength through a series of activities including paddling, sit-ups, and push-ups.
A highlight of DeWitt’s experience was that she celebrated her 13th birthday with her team and parents while in Germany. She also said there was a moment of recognition right before a race where she looked around and thought to herself, “I’m in Germany, racing against all these other countries, and it’s just crazy.”
“I liked being able to represent my country and meet people from all around the world,” VanZandwijk said. “You get to learn a lot about other people and different ways of life. It was cool to see all of us there and having fun, no matter who we were and where we were from.” She said the training was hard and the competition was tough, “but it was worth it in the end to actually be there and race alongside everyone who put the same effort into it.”
More than 30 countries and over 4,000 athletes participated in the global competition.
About the Author
Kristen Parker is a freelance writer. She has a passion for words and creativity. Kristen and her husband Chris, enjoy board games and thrift shopping. They attend Stratford CRC in Stratford, Ont.