Team South Africa Hunting Medals in Denmark

A strong South African team will once again be expecting to return with a big medal haul from the 2023 ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships which starts on Thursday, 31 August, in Vejen, Denmark.

Heading into the championships, Christie Mackenzie has moved up into the senior ranks and is cautiously excited to tackle the best of the best in the K1 event.

“It’s quite nice going into a race and not having too many expectations, because it is my first year as a senior,” the Euro Steel athletes said.

“I do want to have a good race and I’ve raced a number of these girls in previous years, but it’s a different ball game now and I’m now at the bottom of the food chain as one of the youngest on the start line.

“With that in mind, it does take some of the pressure off, but I am excited to finally be at the top of the racing pool and able to race the best people in the world.”

Mackenzie is focusing entirely on the K1 race at the World Championships this year and she will be joined in the senior women’s K1 by Nikki Birkett.

The women’s K2’s will include the Durban-based training pair of Michelle Burn and 2022 junior medallist in K1 and K2, Saskia Hockly, as well as the East London training partners Nikki Birkett and Jade Wilson.

Jade Wilson and Hockly will be the two boats in the women’s under 23 K1 and they too will be hoping to step onto the podium after their race.

From a short course perspective Bridgitte Hartley and Christie Mackenzie will be out to claim medals for Team South Africa.

For more information go to www.canoesa.org.za

Team South Africa for the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships

K1 Women Senior – Christie Mackenzie, Nikki Birkett
K1 Women Senior Short Course – Bridgitte Hartley, Christie Mackenzie
K1 Women Under 23 – Saskia Hockly, Jade Wilson
K1 Women Junior – Georgia Singe, Holly Smith

K2 Women Senior – Nikki Birkett/Jade Wilson, Michelle Burn/Saskia Hockly
K2 Women Junior – Georgia Singe/Holly Smith, Babette van Rooyen/Neriyah Dill

Photo 1 Caption: Christie Mackenzie is cautiously excited to tackle the best of the best in the K1 event at the 2023 ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships which starts on Thursday, 31 August, in Vejen, Denmark. Photo: Dark Challenge (Facebook)