Inessa Caramov

“I first started dragon boat in 2015, when my father, who is the president of the Moldavian Dragon Boat, opened a club in our town and brought a boat (D-20 at first) at our lake. I decided to try it because we hadn’t had such a sport in our country before. It was really hard to start something new and unusual, but in retrospect, I see how much we accomplished together as a team.

My favorite memory is from the 2018 European Nations Championships in Brandenburg, Germany. Our girls team had a boy-steersman. On the 2nd day of competition, the organising committee changed the rules, and according to it, girls’ teams should have a girl on helm. We found out about this change only 10 minutes before a 500m race. We did not have any trained girl as a steersman, so it was decided I should go. I was very scared and overcome with emotions, and at the start, took a hard turn to the right. We almost crashed into the Hungarian team, but finally we came to the finish line in 3rd place!

Of course, during these 5 years, I have many more memories, but what I want to say is that I’m very grateful for the opportunities that dragon boat has given me; I am thankful for every beautiful moment, hard training, adventure, emotion, new friend and trip. I’m really very proud and fond of my team. We go through a lot together, and still will be fighting, side by side, for the best.”

[Inessa Caramov (Drochia, Moldova), paddler on Moldavian U18 national team.]

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