The South African women were completely dominant in the 2024 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships, with Kira Bester winning overall for the U23 gold and Michelle Burn finishing second to claim the senior title, while Georgia Singe was the top junior and an impressive seventh overall to complete a clean-sweep of titles in the major championship events at Madeira Island in Portugal on Friday and Saturday, 5 October, 2024.
“It’s an incredible feeling to have won because it is kind of the pinnacle of all my hard work coming together and paying off.”
2024 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Champion, Kira Bester
The combined South African surfski team dominated the champs claiming victories in five out of the six major championship races, with six SA paddlers finishing within the top ten overall in the women’s events.
Other South African women to finish within the top ten overall were Melanie van Niekerk (fourth and second senior); Saskia Hockly (fifth and third U23) and Jade Wilson (ninth and fourth U23).
The new Women’s World Champion said she really had to work hard for her title, both on the water and in the preparation for the event.
“I actually can’t describe the race in a quick way because it was as long as hell and the conditions were so diverse,” said Bester once she had a chance to reflect on her victory.
“Basically there was a downwind, then there was a headwind, then there was a flat section, a bumpy section and they kind of chopped and turned the whole time, so it was a very very difficult course. Even though it was a short distance, it felt like an aeon and it was very, very, very challenging.”
File Photo: Lynne Hauptfleisch / Gameplan Media
Bester stayed further inshore than her rivals on the race from Machico to Funchal, and when the two groups met after about nine kilometres of the 21km race, she had a small lead over Burn.
“That was not the plan at all.”
“I actually wanted to put in a much bigger gap prior to us coming back together. I thought that the initial downwind section was going to last a bit longer, so I’d kind of like planned my game-plan around the fact that maybe the downwind would carry on to about 13 kilometres and I could rest a bit. That was a bit problematic for my plan, because I pushed so hard and then didn’t have much left.”
“It ended up being good, but I think a deeper line would have been a better choice, because I could have avoided the tidal currents, but I’m obviously very happy with how the race turned out.”
“I have sacrificed so much to get here and you don’t know whether it’s actually going to pay off in the end. It’s not just the sacrifices of myself, it’s the sacrifices from all the people around me that have supported me and motivated me to be consistent and push through on the days that I don’t want to go to training.”
“It’s an achievement for all the people that backed me – my family, my team, my coaches and basically my whole club,” concluded Bester. “It’s a really awesome feeling, but I want it to be not just my achievements. I wanted it to be achievement for all those that have backed me since day one!”
Leading Elite Women Results 2024 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships at Madeira Island in Portugal, on 4 and 5 October, 2024
1. Kira Bester (RSA – U23) 01:43:39.79
2. Michelle Burn (RSA) 01:44:01.56
3. Katriana Swetish (USA – U23) 01:45:16.51
4. Melanie van Niekerk (RSA) 01:45:16.84
5. Saskia Hockly (RSA – U23) 01:47:00.39
6. Judit Verges (ESP) 01:47:31.57
7. Georgia Singe (RSA – Jun) 01:47:48.22
8. Chloe Bunnett (ESP) 01:49:25.92
9. Jade Wilson (RSA – U23) 01:50:56.41
10. Amaia Osaba (ESP) 01:51:37.66
U23 Women Podium Results
1. Kira Bester (RSA) 01:43:39.79
2. Katriana Swetish (USA) 01:45:16.51
3. Saskia Hockly (RSA) 01:47:00.39
Junior Women Podium Results
1. Georgia Singe (RSA) 01:47:48.22
2. Holly Smith (RSA) 01:56:56.97
3. Lara Cellier (ESP) 01:58:46.54
South African Women Medal Winners
Senior Women: Michelle Burn – Gold
Senior Women: Melanie van Niekerk – Silver
U23 Women: Kira Bester – Gold
U23 Women: Saskia Hockly – Bronze
Jun Women: Georgia Singe – Gold
Jun Women: Holly Smith – Silver
Original Copy: Tim Whitfield for Gameplan Media, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: 2024 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Champion Kira Bester was the star of a potent Team South Africa campaign at Madeira Island on Friday and Saturday, 5 October, 2024. File Photo: Bruce Viaene / Gameplan Media
Photo 2 Caption: Michelle Burn finished behind Bester for a SA gold-silver podium combination, taking the world senior title. File Photo: Lynne Hauptfleisch / Gameplan Media
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