Noosa’s Australian kayak champion Vivienne Golding is set to compete alongside former Olympians at The World Masters Games 2017 in Auckland this week.
Vivienne will compete in the over-50s canoe slalom alongside former Olympians from all over the globe next week as 27,000 participants come together to compete across 28 sports at the games, the largest multi-sport event in the world.
Canoe slalom events are being hosted at Vector Wero Whitewater Park, the first purpose-built white water park in New Zealand. It’s a challenging 400-metre grade three course but Vivienne’s ready for the challenge.
Vivienne represented Australia internationally for almost a decade in the ’80s, last competing at the 2009 Masters Games in Sydney.
Despite the time since her last international competition, Vivienne hasn’t taken a break from kayaking. In fact, as owner of Noosa Everglades’ sustainable kayak operator Kanu Kapers, she’s in training every day.
Vivienne’s passion for kayaking developed from her love of nature, so when her kayaking career ended, instead of choosing to coach she decided to be an instructor, guiding kayak tours in to the wilderness and teaching people how to kayak efficiently and safely and promoting environmental sustainability.
Asked what she expected to achieve at the games Vivienne said she just wanted to get out there and do the best she could.
“I’m really excited to be competing with these iconic athletes, team-mates and friends again,” she said.
“I love the challenges of the slalom and focusing on my strength and fitness. It’s my passion and my job. It’s just my thing.”
