Going for Gold - Team Canada Dragon Boat

My name is Mia Kaufman and I have been accepted onto the Junior National Dragon Boat team of Canada. I live in London, Ontario and go to Medway Highschool. Dragon boating is my passion and I am currently preparing for the Worlds Dragon Boat competition held in Thailand this summer. I am hoping to fundraise to support my goal to be able to go with the national team this August. We will need to pay for all expenses, such as flights and hotels, ourselves. Any support from the community would be greatly appreciated. I have been paddling for the last four years and I am greatly honoured to have this opportunity to compete in an international competition. It is a dream of mine to have this opportunity and I am thankful to have been selected.

I first started dragon boating when I was 13, in 2019. I joined the London Juniors Dragon Boat Team and found my love for paddling and being out on the water. I had never truly enjoyed other sports before, but the feeling of being on the boat changed my life. But after that season, London Juniors disbanded, and there weren't any junior teams in London. So I decided to follow my coach, Marie-Eve Lessard, to my current home team, TRPC (Thames River Paddling Club), who practices in Wildwood.

I raced with them until COVID hit in 2020, and I couldn't do any paddling due to COVID restrictions. It was only in 2021 that I was allowed back on the water. Marie-Eve had set up a small boat program which included the OC (outrigger canoe). During the pandemic, we weren't allowed in dragon boats, so I practiced in the OCs since it was the only way I could continue being out on the water. We were finally able to race in the dragon boats again in 2022, and I continued to do OC training on the side, even participating in a 12K race in Ottawa with another paddler from TRPC.

One day, Marie-Eve asked if I was interested in trying out for Team Canada and I was shocked and very excited. I had only heard about Team Canada in the passing and at the time, it seemed unreachable to me. But I was determined to do my best to reach my goal of making the team. And so I officially started my journey in October last year at the very first competition in Welland, Ontario.

During this process, I was introduced to Ken Gene, the coach of the Stratford Women and Junior Dragon Boat teams. He trained me throughout the winter and was there to help and encourage me whenever I felt unconfident or overwhelmed. I am very thankful to Ken for all the work he has put into dragon boating and for supporting me in making the national team.

And after nine long months of training and testing, I received my official invitation to Team Canada on May 24th, 2023.

I have finally reached my goal of making the team, but my journey has just begun. I am so thankful for all the contributions that have been donated until now and I will continue to work hard to keep the seat I've earned. My goal is to win gold at the championships this year, and I don't plan on letting down my team or my country.