Marissa Goldsmith

“I started dragon boat in my second year of university when a buddy of mine told me that the Iron Dragons were still recruiting for female athletes. I was going to have surgery for a meniscus tear during the year and I was looking for a sport that wouldn't impact my recovery. That year I just barely made the team, but it was the start of my dragon boat journey.

It's tough to narrow it down to just one, but I'd say my most memorable dragon boat moment was in 2015 when I found out that I’d made the U24 Canadian national team. I remember my heart racing as I opened up the final roster selection email and immediately jumping on the couch as I read ‘Congratulations!...’ It was an incredible feeling that all my hours of training had paid off. That year I learned a lot about how hard I could really push myself, both mentally and physically. I learned to love and trust in the process and that dragon boat was no longer just a sport for me, but a lifestyle choice.”

[Marissa Goldsmith (Toronto, ON, Canada), coach of University of Toronto Engineering Iron Dragons, paddler on True North Hammerheads, paddler/general manager of True North Premier Women, ex-paddler on U24 Canadian national team.]

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