My U23 World Championships Experience - written by Justin Boyko

I had an awesome time in Plovdiv, Bulgaria at the U23 Junior World Championships! Racing in the mixed C2 was a huge learning experience—it took a lot of focus and hard work to race well. Even though we didn’t make it to the A final, the experience was incredible. I got to meet so many athletes from different countries and see how canoe sprint is approached in various places.

Making new friends and connecting with people from all over the world was definitely a highlight. I’m looking forward to catching up with them at future international regattas. Plus, it was great to support other U23 and junior athletes like Julia Demchuk and many others. The whole event made me even more excited to race internationally again this fall!

Representing Team Canada has been a dream of mine ever since I realized it was within reach, and attending the Junior Worlds was an incredible experience that has fuelled my motivation for the future. Competing on an international stage was truly amazing and reinforced my passion for the sport. Overall, this regatta was a fantastic experience that I’ll always cherish and use as inspiration for the years to come.