Marianne Tai Poh Yee

“I started dragon boat because my boyfriend at that time was a paddler and we joined Shag’n Dragons. I fell in love with the sport, and when my boyfriend and I broke up, I made sure I continued on the team when he left. I’m glad I didn’t quit!

I think my most favourite memory was making the roster in 2008 with the women’s team to race in my home country Malaysia at Club Crew World Championships. It was many of my “firsts”: first time racing internationally, first time on a competitive dragon boat team, first time having a gym trainer to build strength, first time racing in front of my parents, first time meeting teams from other parts of the world...that moment was the turning point of my dragon boat career and has led me to all of my successes today.”

[Marianne Tai Poh Yee (Toronto, Canada), paddler and co-captain on Outer Harbour Women, paddler on Hammerheads Mixed Crew and Canada national team.]

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