Ivana Markovic

“I was a national kayak team member in former-Yugoslavia with valuable achievements in the Balkan region. When I finished university and started to work, I did not have enough time to continue as a professional kayaker.

After more than 20 years, when I achieved the highest professional position in business, when my son reached 18, and when I tried dragon boat by "excident", I realized that sports again found me. It looked very similar to kayak, and gave me the opportunity to be outside and be with great people who have great senses of humor and positive approaches to life…

Dragon boat also gives me an opportunity to feel that I am young and strong again, even like I’m in the best ages 😉

For sure, I get a lot of positive energy from the team and from being outside. Our coach is also from kayak/canoesport; ex-canoeist, also from my generation and member of the national team in former-Yugoslavia. Somehow, we are all together again.

In short, after almost 3 years of dragon boat, the greatest experience is CCWC 2018 in Szeged, Hungary. The opening ceremony, the days of competitions, meeting great people from different countries, and the best one - I met again my kayak partners who live, work and paddle in the US. We refreshed our memories and friendships again. 

My next stop is a camp in Florida in April 2019. I will paddle with them again and I am so excited because of that.”

[Ivana Markovic (Zemun, Belgrade, Serbia), paddler on the Danube Riders Crew at Motion Dragon Boat Club.]

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