Helderberg surfski world champion Kira Bester has been nominated as Sportswoman of the Year for canoeing at the 19th edition of the South African Sport Awards (SASA), the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture announced last Wednesday (12 August).
Under this year’s theme, “Crowned by Greatness” the nomination caps a year in which the Gordon’s Bay-raised paddler defended her world title in home waters, a victory forged in grief as much as in glory.
Bester clinched her second successive ICF Canoe Ocean Racing world crown in Durban in October last year, crossing the line in 2:22:46, 23 seconds clear of New Zealand’s Danielle Richards.
As she finished the 34 km race, she pointed to her ORKA cap and then to the sky as a tribute to her coach and mentor, Pete Cole, who died last July.
She is nominated alongside cricket star Laura Wolvaardt and middle-distance runner Prudence Sekgodiso.
“It honestly is a huge honour. When I first heard about the nomination there was a bit of disbelief because one looks at the names of the other women in the category and what they have achieved in their sports, and it is humbling to be included alongside them.
“It also means a lot to me because paddling, and particularly surfski, doesn’t always get the same attention as some of the bigger sporting codes. We have incredible paddlers in this country and a strong paddling community, so this is bigger than just me.”
Asked which single performance best defined her “greatness” in 2025, she pointed to the world championships in Durban. “Not necessarily because it was the perfect race, but because of everything that went into getting to that start line. The year 2025 was an incredibly emotional year for me, especially after losing my coach and mentor, Cole. He was so much more than a coach to me. Winning a second world title, at home with all that emotion behind it, meant more to me than I can really put into words.”
Bester’s 2025 season was a clean sweep across three oceans – winner of the the Freedom Paddle in Cape Town in April, the Euro Challenge in Spain in May, the Hong Kong Dragon Race in November, the Perth Doctor and overall WA Shaw and Partners Race Week in Australia, the Cape Point Challenge in December and current SA Ocean Racing Champion. She also won the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Cup in Villajoyosa, Spain, and in Réunion.
“You can’t be at your absolute peak every week of the year, so it’s about planning your training around the important races and trusting the work you’ve done. Mostly, I kept coming back to why I enjoy paddling. When you’re enjoying what you’re doing the hard training becomes a little easier.”
Has she reached the summit? “Definitely a higher gear, but not there yet! I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, but I’m not finished. Winning makes me more curious about how much better I can become.”
Bester also competes in marathon racing and lifesaving alongside surfski. “Surfski is my main focus. I do marathon racing as race simulation and lifesaving brings a team environment I really enjoy. I’m excited to compete in the Lifesaving World Championships in Port Elizabeth later this year.”
If she wins the prestigious title of Sportswoman of the Year this Saturday (23 August), what would that mean for paddling in South Africa.
“It would be massive. South Africa has such a rich history in canoeing and surfski. We consistently produce athletes who compete with the best in the world, but the sport doesn’t always receive mainstream recognition. If a young girl sees a paddler on that stage and thinks, ‘Maybe I could do that, that would be pretty special.’”
Her advice to newcomers? “Just try it. Find a club, find someone who can teach you safely and get onto the water. Paddling has given me so much more than medals – friendships, travel and so much about myself. You might swim more than you paddle at first, but that’s part of the fun.”
Bester has coached for three years and is establishing an online training school.
“Five years from now? I’d like to think you’ll still find me in the ocean doing what I love or on a start line close to water somewhere.”
Asked what people wouldn’t see from the results, she said: “There is more emotion behind the results than people realise. They see a name, a position and a time; they don’t see the early mornings, the bad sessions, the self-doubt or the difficult things away from racing.
“Last year, taught me that more than any other year. Success isn’t just about standing on the top step of a podium. It’s about the people with whom you share the journey, how you respond when things become difficult and still finding joy in what you’re doing.
“Behind all the results I’m still just Kira. I love paddling, I love being on the water and I’m very lucky that something I love doing has taken me to places I never imagined it would.”
