Doorway to the Olympics
Donation protected
My name is Marina Toribiong and I am a Canoe Racer from the island nation of Palau . I've been racing outrigger canoes since I was 14 years old. Paddling is my love and my life.
In March of 2015 a doorway was opened to me for an Olympic opportunity. The Canoe Association of Palau agreed to endorse me for the 2015 Under 23 World Championship Sprint Kayak event in Portugal. The decision was based on my status as the number 1 female outrigger canoe paddler from Palau. The catch was that I needed to learn to race the K1 racing boat. Palau doesn't currently have the boats/equipment that our athletes need to train on. So after receiving the good news from the International Canoe Federation (Planet Canoe ) that I had been selected to represent Palau in the U23 event, I went to stay with my aunt in Califonia to join the San Diego Canoe and Kayak Team to train the K1. The venue I trained in is 40 miles from my aunt's house and I had to rent a car to get to practice twice a day for 2 months. I started in a Van Duesen Hawk and within 2 months i've moved into a K1 Nelo, a top of the line sprint racing kayak. My times were good enough to get me to Portugal where I competed against the best in the world in my age group. That competition was just the fuel I needed to propel my drive to the next level.
From here the next steps are to compete at the Senior World Championship in Milan on August 18-24 and then on to the Continetnal Qualifier in Adelaide Australia to compete for a quota place for the RIO Olympics in 2016.
To realize my life dream of representing my country in the 2016 Olympics I need to be able to train non-stop.
In order to do that I need to purchase a k1 racing boat and ship it to Palau, and I promise that with the support to continue training I will give 200% to win a quota place at the Continental Qualifier and be the first woman from Palau to Compete in the K1 sprint kayaking at the Olympics.
In March of 2015 a doorway was opened to me for an Olympic opportunity. The Canoe Association of Palau agreed to endorse me for the 2015 Under 23 World Championship Sprint Kayak event in Portugal. The decision was based on my status as the number 1 female outrigger canoe paddler from Palau. The catch was that I needed to learn to race the K1 racing boat. Palau doesn't currently have the boats/equipment that our athletes need to train on. So after receiving the good news from the International Canoe Federation (Planet Canoe ) that I had been selected to represent Palau in the U23 event, I went to stay with my aunt in Califonia to join the San Diego Canoe and Kayak Team to train the K1. The venue I trained in is 40 miles from my aunt's house and I had to rent a car to get to practice twice a day for 2 months. I started in a Van Duesen Hawk and within 2 months i've moved into a K1 Nelo, a top of the line sprint racing kayak. My times were good enough to get me to Portugal where I competed against the best in the world in my age group. That competition was just the fuel I needed to propel my drive to the next level.
From here the next steps are to compete at the Senior World Championship in Milan on August 18-24 and then on to the Continetnal Qualifier in Adelaide Australia to compete for a quota place for the RIO Olympics in 2016.
To realize my life dream of representing my country in the 2016 Olympics I need to be able to train non-stop.
In order to do that I need to purchase a k1 racing boat and ship it to Palau, and I promise that with the support to continue training I will give 200% to win a quota place at the Continental Qualifier and be the first woman from Palau to Compete in the K1 sprint kayaking at the Olympics.
Organizer and beneficiary
Blaire Nicole
Organizer
Palau, PW
Marina Toribiong
Beneficiary