Mary Nieh

“I started dragon boat in 2010 as an eager freshman in high school! Going into high school, I knew I wanted to join a team sport for the community and also to stay active. As I walked through the swarm of students at my club/sports fair, I was drawn to dragon boat due to its inclusive nature. Because most people hadn’t heard of dragon boat, everyone started on a level playing field; everyone had the same potential to be great and you were only limited by how dedicated and how hard you worked towards getting better. Fast forward 10 years, I’m still actively paddling although my reason for staying in the sport has changed multiple times since I first joined.

I don’t have a specific favorite memory, but the feeling that keeps me coming back are the moments when I feel connected to my teammates― the moments that make me appreciate the special group of people I get to be surrounded with. Moments like executing a race piece perfectly and sticking to the plan, like having a great practice against all odds, and my favorite, surpassing expectations because we can always achieve more together. No matter the level of interaction, my admiration and respect for those on my crew always swells. Because in these moments, I got to share an experience that isn't able to be easily replicated or felt again.”

[Mary Nieh (Long Beach, CA, USA), co-founder/vice president of Rising Tide Dragon Boat, paddler on U24 US national team, ex-captain of UC Irvine Dragon Boat, ex-paddler on Lowell High School Dragon Boat.]

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