Debut of the Breast Cancer Category at the 17th IDBF World Championships – and Three Vienna Pink Dragons Right in the Middle of It
Submitted by Svenja Franke-Bruhn, National Representative Germany & Country Liaison Austria.
The introduction of the Breast Cancer Paddler (BCP) category at the 17th IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships was a truly special moment—an opportunity to share the joy with friends and many familiar faces from the pink paddling community around the world. The atmosphere along the Beetzsee regatta course was extraordinary, as we cheered on a total of ten breast cancer teams from various countries competing in both small boat and standard boat divisions.
Three paddlers from the Vienna Pink Dragons travelled to Brandenburg to be part of this unforgettable event.
I (Svenja) had the honour to be registered as a supporter for the “non-member BCP Alliance FR” team from France, who were able to attend thanks to the unwavering support by IDBF and IBCPC. I was able to assist them in many ways all the while brushing up my French —from the initial registration to marshalling logistics like carrying bags with 22 mobiles, badges and a few water bottles while the team was on the water. Several paddlers in this team including their team captain Claire had previously joined the Vienna Pink Dragons in New Zealand, making it a joyful reunion for us. The opening ceremony was another opportunity to met a few more like Eleni from Cyprus, Helen, a former VPD now paddling in Senior C for the Auroras, Australia and Bron, a Kiwi living in UK.
As a German-Kiwi, I was especially delighted to witness the success of both the German and New Zealand BCP teams live. In my role as National Representative for Germany, I felt incredibly proud of their strong performance: two bronze medals in the small boat category and consistent fourth-place finishes in all other races. Absolutely fantastic!
Ultimately, congratulations to each and every BCP team—they truly made history at these World Championships.
The pretty erratic weather, which even led to several race cancellations, conveniently calmed down just as Rinoa and Julia arrived. After a stroll through picturesque Brandenburg and a quick visit to “Herr Müller-Lüdenscheid” (a beloved cultural icon from German humorist Loriot), I sadly had to say goodbye. The two then enjoyed radiant sunshine while watching the exciting 500-meter races and soaking up the vibrant atmosphere of the closing party.
As Rinoa so beautifully put it: These days were more than just a sporting event. They were a heartfelt experience—reminding us once again of the joy, strength, camaraderie and solidarity that pink paddling embodies, and how truly special it is to be part of this wonderful community.
