Latest news with #CanoePoloSAChampionships
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Dabs paddlers find success in Portugal
Dabulamanzi Canoe Club (Dabs) paddlers were among the South African paddlers who enjoyed their experience at the U23 Canoe Sprint Championships held in Portugal from July 23 to 27. They competed in various race distances, heats, semi finals, and finals, gaining experience and enjoyment over the few days. Read more: Young paddlers hit the water running at the Canoe Polo SA Championships Alexa Godden reached the semi finals in her two singles races, 200m and 500m, having paddled in three events at the regatta. She also joined Jordan Klopper, in the U23 mixed relay, where they finished 16th. Emmarentia resident Kayla Szalay thoroughly enjoyed her first world cup sprint event, which can be quite daunting. While participating in the 1 000m and 500m events, she realised that competing is a long term journey. It builds a foundation for future victories, creates learning opportunities, and develops grit and determination, even when not achieving the positions hoped for. A tough lesson for a young person to learn, it will stand her in good stead for the future. Kayla partnered with Cody Stallard in the long, 5 000m mixed relay, finishing 18th after navigating chaotic portages. Fellow Dabs paddler Klopper progressed out of the heats in the 200m K1 (single kayak), where he finished ninth in the semi-finals. This was Klopper's third international event, and he thoroughly enjoyed the championships this year. He felt it was a really tough challenge, but learned a lot and gained experience, and he looks forward to his growth and improvement going forward. Matthew Wilson has trained at Dabs since he was U8, and has, subsequently, achieved numerous international victories. For this competition, he doubled with Sbulelo Ngobese in the 500m K2 event, finishing eighth in the junior category (U18) heats. Matthew also represented SA in Szeged, Hungary, at the Olympic Hopes in 2024, and also participated at this year's Dusi River. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
A champion returns a hero
Franklin D. Roosevelt Park Primary School rolled out the red carpet for its hero, Kyle Armdorff. Read more: Young paddlers hit the water running at the Canoe Polo SA Championships Kyle recently made waves on the international stage by representing South Africa at the prestigious International President Cup 2025 Regatta in Azerbaijan. The young athlete returned home with two gold medals in the U14 Boys K1 category, triumphing in both the 200m and 500m events. The celebrations included the school choir singing for him, a slide show of his journey in canoeing, and a poem from fellow learners. The staff were proud of Kyle's achievement, stating that he brought honour to the school. 'FDR has been in existence for 73 years, and we have never produced an international champion. Therefore, we were honouring him,' said the departmental head of the intermediate phase, Vicky Akaloo. During the welcome ceremony, Kyle expressed his gratitude for the support he received throughout his journey. 'I worked very hard, and I am really happy to represent my family, school, and friends,' he said. 'I would like to thank all the people who have been supporting me along the way. If it were not for them, I would not be here right now.' Kyle's message to aspiring athletes was clear: perseverance is key. 'Never give up because it is not the end of the world. Every time you train, every stroke… it counts. Sometimes when your body is really tired, you have to push yourself. It's not about waking up and training for 10 minutes; at least train for one hour. You have to get out of your comfort zone.' Reflecting on his experience, Kyle shared his desire to compete again and create more unforgettable memories. 'I am looking forward to going to big games like the Olympics and travelling with my family one day, hopefully representing my country and becoming famous like my role models, Esti Oliver and Hamish Lovemore.' Also read: Founder of the Soweto Canoe and Recreation Club looks back at his journey Coach Nkosi Mzolo, who has been guiding Kyle for years, emphasised the importance of preparation and strategy. 'We had to go back to the drawing board, researching other athletes and their times. Our goal was to beat those times and ensure that when we got there, we were at the same level. We trained six days a week, sometimes even twice a day. 'I am super proud, not just for Kyle but for myself as a coach. After 17 years of coaching, this is my first medal, and it feels like a win for me already.' Kyle's father, Ryno, shared his pride in his son's achievements. 'As a father, you can only be so proud of your kids. The moment he crossed that finish line, there were tears in our eyes as we watched from home. Everyone in the house was emotional because he worked so hard.' Ryno reflected on his journey in canoeing and how it paralleled Kyle's. 'I always told Kyle about my experiences, and now, as his parents, we provide him with even more support than I had growing up. It's a very emotional time for us all, seeing Kyle reach such heights. 'The question now is, what's next? Everyone's talking about the Olympics. People say Kyle is too young and that we are pushing him, but he is the one telling us what he wants. If he says he is tired, he is tired; if he wants to sleep, he sleeps. As parents, we can only guide him.' Ryno concluded that it took a village to raise a child, and now was the time for that village to step up. 'We want to see the best for Kyle, and we hope his talents will shine through, leading him to the Olympics.' Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! Related article: Dabulamanzi Canoe Club members take on the Dusi At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
