Swedish canoe marathon athlete Melina Andersson has been named The World Games Athlete of the Month for September 2024 after her spectacular victory at the ICF World Championships (Canoe) in Metković, Croatia, where she triumphed over one of the sport's most decorated athletes, Vanda Kiszli of Hungary.
This victory not only marks a career milestone for Andersson but also qualifies her for The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, a prestigious event that she eagerly anticipates.
Andersson’s win in the long-distance race in Metković was nothing short of remarkable. Reflecting on the triumph, Andersson credited her ability to stay composed during the competition as the key to her success.
“It was an amazing feeling being able to win the long race. It has been a goal of mine for this season, and I am so happy that I could do it,” Andersson said. “The key factor was that I kept calm during the whole race and trusted my strengths.”
However, the path to victory was not without its challenges. Early on, Andersson faced a critical moment when her paddle broke, a potentially difficult situation. Showing incredible calm, she quickly adapted to her spare paddle which she had rarely used before.
"At first, I didn’t feel good at all because I had never really used my spare paddle, but with some help, I managed to make it feel as close to my original one as possible," she explained.
Her victory against Kiszli is seen as a significant shake-up in the canoe marathon scene, where Kiszli has long dominated. Andersson, however, remains humble and focused on the future.
"I will keep doing what I have been doing for the last three years. I will focus a lot on my sessions and keep training hard to be even better," she said, indicating her dedication to continuous improvement.
Looking ahead, Andersson is thrilled about qualifying for The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China, which she has been targeting all season.
"It feels great, and I am really excited about The World Games next year," she shared with enthusiasm. "It has been one of my main goals, and now I can focus on endurance and speed as I prepare for the competition."
When asked what advice she would offer to aspiring canoe marathoners, Andersson emphasised the importance of hard work, dedication, and tactical awareness.
"I would say to train hard and focus on paddling a lot each year," she advised. "It’s also helpful to have a group of friends you can train with and analyse your races with."
With this performance in Croatia, Andersson has positioned herself as a rising star in the sport, and her commitment to improvement will undoubtedly make her a contender to watch in the years to come.
The International World Games Association (IWGA) is a non-profit-making international sports organisation recognised and supported by the International Olympic Committee. The IWGA comprises 38 International Member Sports Federations. It administers and promotes The World Games (TWG), a multi-sport event held every four years that features around 35 sports on its programme. The next edition of TWG will be in Chengdu (CHN) from 7-17 August 2025. 5,000 participants from more than 100 countries are expected to take part in this 12th edition. The latest Games were hosted by Birmingham, Alabama (USA).
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