Local paddling star Kira Bester has claimed the overall World Champion title at the prestigious ICF (International Canoe Federation) Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships in Madeira, Portugal.
In a gruelling 21 km race from Machico to Funchal, Bester finished in a time of 1:43:39.79, securing victory by 22 seconds over fellow South African Michelle Burn, with Ana Swetish from the USA finishing third overall.
The competition was fierce, with most of the world’s top ocean racing athletes participating. Bester’s impressive endurance and determination helped her keep her lead, crossing the finish line in first place and cementing her position as the best in the world. Burn finished with a time of 1:44:01.56, while Swetish, another under-23 competitor, secured her podium place with a time of 1:45:15.21.
Reflecting on her win, Bester said: “It’s an unbelievable feeling to be crowned the overall world champion. The achievement is not just for me, but the rest of my team, my family, my coach Pete Cole, my training squad, (Orka training squad) and everyone else who helped me to get to this point.
“The competition was incredibly tough, Michelle, Ana and Melanie put in fantastic performances.
“To represent South Africa and bring home this title is a dream come true. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my team and the incredible encouragement from back home.”
