St John Fisher College year 8 student Safari Watson-Feilo has
been crowned Under 14 National Girls Champion for Open Water Canoeing
(Outrigging) this February.
2019 marks the 6th consecutive year that Safari
has been National Champion for her age group in this sport.
“Safari started competing in the sport in 2014 at the age of
nine and showed an immediate talent and passion for the sport, bringing home
three gold medals at Nationals just a year later”, comments her mother Tracey
Watson.
“The sport is something we have enjoyed as a family with her
two brothers representing Australia at 2016 World Championships in 2016, and so
it was a natural progression for Safari to follow suit”.
The event took place from 1-3rd February at Lake
Kawana, Bokarina, Sunshine Coast, with more than 600 competitors participating.
Safari won two gold medals in the team sprint and captained
the ‘OC6 turns’, a race requiring steering skills and teamship. This
performance was backed up by second gold medal in the ‘team straights’ event.
“It felt so awesome to win and shows I can make it at the
next level of competition, “says Safari.
St
John Fisher College, Head of Sport Tamara Stephen says, “Safari is a remarkable
athlete with power, endurance and the commitment to achieve anything she puts
her mind to.”
Safari’s goal is to attend the 2020 World Championships to be
held in Hawaii, competing in sprints, at age 14.
