Megan Roberts

"I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression for most of my life, and was seeking a healthier lifestyle to manage that, and a community that shared that lifestyle. Most of my runs at the time followed the Schuylkill River. When I stumbled into dragon boat, I realized being ON the water is so much better!

My first practice with Schuylkill Dragons, I was exhausted after the warmup. And I thought I was in great shape! I was hooked. My second season, I made the national team, joined Philadelphia Outrigger Canoe Club, and started distance racing, a great complement to dragon boat. Now, I coach both club teams, and am married to my Schuylkill Dragons co-coach, Joann Fegley. And I’m part of an empowering, positive community that has become like family, and inspires me every day.

There are stories I’ll never forget from every Worlds. The sacrifice required to get there and fleetingness of the opportunity brings an intensity to every race. I learn something new about myself and make new lifelong friends every cycle.

A favorite memory is the ups and downs of racing at Club Crews 2018. It was the first worlds for most of the team and for me as coach. Day one of racing was crazy windy. Our premier crew started a 200m heat stuck on a metal camera pole, and the impact took out lefty paddlers and our steer. We lost control and were DQ’d, done for the day. It could’ve demoralized us. And it seeded us last for the 2k, which meant starting first; a tough position mentally for our last and longest worlds race. 

But we were determined to redeem ourselves. As we crossed the finish of our final race, we glanced back to the field. The gap was huge! There was one more heat. In the end we came in 7th, our best worlds finish. And I could not have been prouder of the crew’s courage and resolve to succeed in the most challenging circumstances we had ever faced together."

[Megan Roberts (Philadelphia, PA, USA), paddler on Premier USA national team, co-coach/paddler on Schuylkill Dragons, head coach/paddler on Philadelphia Outrigger Canoe Club.]

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