First-time canoeing duo wins gold
- Jeanelle Mandes | July 22, 2014
On the first day of the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), two canoeing athletes from Team British Columbia (BC) won gold in the 1000 metre race.
Brandyn Chappell from Chilliwack and Makayla Sam from Vancouver learned they were paired together as a team upon arrival.
Chappell says he's been practicing for the past year getting together with friends to train himself for NAIG. He says winning the race it's just another day for him even though they haven't had the chance to practice together.
"It feels like another race. I've been racing for eight years now, you kind of get used to it. To me, it feels like nothing special," says Chappell.
He was excited yet he felt overwhelmed, and Sam says she was happy when they took the victory in the 1000 metre race.
"It's exciting and it was intense. I think we did great," she says.
They both are looking forward in having a great experience at NAIG and hopes everyone has fun and hopes everyone has a fun experience also.
The canoeing/kayaking sporting event took place at Wascana Lake.