Thank You, Together
A heartfelt reflection on a campaign built on shared belief, anchored by gratitude, and guided into racing by the quiet privilege of pressure.
"Thank you – on behalf of myself (Geoff), Joanne, to all our coaches, managers, supporters and friends in life who have got us here to the first day of racing at the 17th IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships in Brandenburg, Germany. A humbling and reflective moment—to honour those who came before, those who will follow, and those we journeyed with but have since lost."
— Geoff, Mon 14-07-2025
Reflection on the Campaign
On the morning of racing, what remains strongest is not the intensity of the final training or the shape of the race plan, but the quiet power of shared gratitude.
This campaign—like every campaign—is more than a calendar of camps, sets, and selections. It’s a tapestry of efforts layered over time. It’s early alarms, late dinners, long drives, tearful learnings, unexpected wins, and enduring belief. It’s the boat we all moved, often together, sometimes from a distance, but always toward something bigger than ourselves.
The first day of racing doesn’t start with the gun. It starts here: with acknowledgment.
To the coaches who saw potential before we could. To the managers whose invisible work kept the visible moments seamless. To teammates who showed up and stood tall when it mattered. To supporters who made space—for the training, the travel, the toll. To those we paddled with before and to those who shaped the path but aren’t with us now. This is thanks.
We arrive not alone, and not just as individuals wearing green and gold—but also as representatives of all the energy, belief and care poured into this moment. And that presence is not a burden. It’s a privilege.
As our head coach Tanya reminded us at our final team dinner, “Pressure is a privilege.” These nerves, this tension, this weight—they only exist because something deeply meaningful is about to happen. We’ve earned the chance to carry this pressure. It’s not something to fear, but something to honour.
So as the start buzzer draws near, may each crew member carry not just the paddle but also the gratitude. Let the rhythm begin with thank you. Let the stroke carry belief. Let the pressure remind us that we are lucky to feel it.
We are ready.
Let this be the event that honours all who got us here. Let this be the campaign that reminds us: the work was always ours to carry—but we never carried it alone.
