Jordan Klopper and Theo Dreyer achieve their Green Blazers

Congratulations to both Jordan Klopper and Theo Dreyer on their fantastic achievements and receiving their Green and Gold SA Blazers!

South Africa had a team of 11 paddlers who competed at the Junior (U18) & U23 World Sprint Championships in Auronzo, Italy. It is a stunning race venue located at a UNESCO heritage site on an alpine lake surrounded by mountains.The championship is an annual regatta where the best athletes from each of the nations battle it out on the water. There were +/- 1400 competitors from 64 countries.

The regatta was started with a memorable opening ceremony where all the teams walked through the small town with their respective country’s flag, with support from the town residents cheering them all on. Two of the eleven team members were St David’s Marist Inanda Grade 11 paddlers Theo Dreyer and Jordan Klopper who have both earned their SA blazer. 

Jordan Klopper:• K2 mixed 500m (with Caitlyn Evans (St Teresa’s)). Overall position: 15th (6th Final B).• K1 500m. Overall position: 22nd (4th in Final C).• K1 1000m. Overall position: 33rd. 

Theo Dreyer:• K1 5km with 5 portages. Overall position 13th (Final).• K2 1000m (with Daniel van Zyl Smit (Stirling school)). Overall position: 24th (Semi Final).• K2 500m (with Daniel van Zyl Smit) (Stirling school)). Overall position: 35th.

World Marathons team – National team

Luke Salmon made the RSA team going to World Marathons in August in Denmark for K1 and K2 with his partner Bruno Cochrane (St Johns).

Olympic Hopes – Federation team

Jordan, Theo and Tomé dos Santos will be racing at the annual Olympic Hopes Sprint regatta taking place in September in Poland.

• Jordan K1 events (1000m, 500m and 200m)

• Theo K1 events (1000m, 500m and 200m)

• Tomé K2 events (1000m, 500m and 200m) with his partner Sikhanyisele Dekeda