Michael sprinting his way through the canoeing ranks
Krugersdorp canoeist Michael Goredema is looking forward to competing at the South African Sprint Championships which takes place in Germiston at the end of March.
Michael Goredema from Krugersdorp, who attends Hoërskool Roodepoort, has been training for the upcoming SA Sprint Championships to take place at Victoria Lake Canoe Club in Germiston on March 23, 24 and 25.
He can now add this achievement to his long list of accolades in the sport considering he also participated in the Gauteng Canoe Union Championships in.
According to Gauteng Canoe Union spokesperson Jennie Dallas, this is a remarkable achievement considering he has only been a paddler at Florida Lake Canoe Club for a year.
As part of his training, Michael participated in the Sprint Trilogy, organised by Esti van Tonder, based at Roodeplaat’s Academy of Canoe Development. The trilogy consisted of three races, the first held early last month at Emmarentia Dam followed by two events at Roodeplaat Dam recently.
Michael participated in the trilogy for U16s, finishing 12th out of 34 participants in the first race, then 28th in the second race held at Roodeplaat in a borrowed boat he was not used to. Next, he was the placed second junior in the third race.
Jennie emphasised that sprints are a canoeing Olympic discipline and are very important as an internationally recognised sport.
“This is an amazing achievement for such a new sprint paddler.”
At the 2023 Gauteng Sprint Championships, Michael fell out of his boat numerous times while lining up at the sprint start line.
“To show so much improvement in just one year is very impressive and indicates much effort, hard work and commitment.”
