Oleksandr Zeleny

“When I was younger, I engaged in canoe paddling. The first time I was invited to participate in a dragon boat competition was in 2005. I liked the sport so much that I decided to create my own dragon boat team and promote it in my city and country, Ukraine. So, Burevisnyk Dragon Boat Club started its activity in 2007. I am fully engaged in this kind of sports, where so many different people are in tune with each other and with the boat. Because the result of our team depends on each member, it makes us better and stronger day by day; it is a great motivation! I am glad to have such a big family thanks to dragon boat.

Each competition and each race is a new experience and emotion, a new challenge. The 2018 IDBF Club Crew World Championships in Szeged, Hungary left the brightest impressions for me. So many teams from all over the world gathered together to compete, show themselves, share best practices, and have an eventful sports holiday. Our team had a long path to this championships. Some years back, we could only have dreamed of participating in such a huge event. But we worked hard and supported each other. I am very proud we showed good result and gained unforgettable experience. It motivated us to work harder to show our best at the 18th European Club Crew Championship in Seville, Spain, which will be held this summer.”

[Oleksandr Zeleny/Олександр Зелений (Kyiv, Ukraine), coach on Burevisnyk Dragon Boat Club.]

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