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From Vision to Victory
From Vision to Victory
How Team USA Breast Cancer Paddlers Came to Be
How Team USA Breast Cancer Paddlers Came to Be
In 2024, when the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) announced the historic inclusion of a Breast Cancer Paddler (BCP) division at the 2025 World Championships, the United States Dragon Boat Federation (USDBF) knew this was a moment that demanded excellence. For the first time in the championship's 30-year history, breast cancer survivors would compete on the world's premier dragon boat stage.
The mission was clear: assemble the finest breast cancer paddlers in America to represent our nation with pride, skill, and the unbreakable spirit that defines our community.
A Rigorous Journey to Excellence
A Rigorous Journey to Excellence
The path to Team USA was anything but easy. Under the leadership of Head Coach Angela Long from Survivors in Sync at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida, the selection process was designed to identify not just skilled paddlers but athletes who embodied the heart of the breast cancer dragon boat movement.
The path to Team USA was anything but easy. Under the leadership of Head Coach Angela Long from Survivors in Sync at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida, the selection process was designed to identify not just skilled paddlers but athletes who embodied the heart of the breast cancer dragon boat movement.
The Selection Process included:
Training Camps across multiple locations: Santa Fe Dam (California), Nathan Benderson Park (Florida), and Lake Parsippany (New Jersey)
Time Trials featuring Concept 2 rowing erg tests (1000m and 500m) and OC2 evaluations
On-Water Performance assessments evaluating coachability, blending, technique, and attitude during dragon boat sessions
Video Analysis to ensure technical excellence and team compatibility
Rolling Selections beginning after the April camp, with final team selections completed 8 weeks before the World Championships
From across the nation, hundreds of breast cancer survivors answered the call. Through months of rigorous evaluation, 39 exceptional athletes emerged - 35 paddlers, 2 steers, and 2 drummers - each earning their place through dedication, skill, and the resilience that defines our community.
Rigorous Training Days on the Water for Team USA Paddlers
Rigorous Training Days on the Water for Team USA Paddlers
Head Coach Angela Long Oversees Training Camp
Head Coach Angela Long Oversees Training Camp
Built with Community Support
Built with Community Support
Creating Team USA BCP wouldn't have been possible without the incredible support of the broader dragon boat community. When we needed training venues and expertise across the country, fellow coaches and organizations stepped up to make our dream a reality.
Creating Team USA BCP wouldn't have been possible without the incredible support of the broader dragon boat community. When we needed training venues and expertise across the country, fellow coaches and organizations stepped up to make our dream a reality.
Experienced Team USA coaches opened the doors at facilities like Santa Fe Dam and Lake Parsippany, providing not just world-class training venues but also the knowledge and support that comes from years of elite competition experience. Their generous partnership ensured our athletes from coast to coast had access to the same high-level training and evaluation process.
Experienced Team USA coaches opened the doors at facilities like Santa Fe Dam and Lake Parsippany, providing not just world-class training venues but also the knowledge and support that comes from years of elite competition experience. Their generous partnership ensured our athletes from coast to coast had access to the same high-level training and evaluation process.
These collaborations exemplify the spirit of the dragon boat community - competitors on the water, but united in supporting each other's success. Their generosity helped make it possible for athletes from across the nation to pursue their dreams of representing Team USA.
Today, we're part of a global breast cancer dragon boat movement that spans 380 teams across 40 countries, with approximately 20,000 paddlers worldwide—a community built on mutual support, shared strength, and the belief that together, we're stronger.
Making History, Inspiring Tomorrow
Making History, Inspiring Tomorrow
When Team USA takes the water in Brandenburg, Germany, we'll carry with us the hopes and dreams of countless breast cancer survivors around the world. We're not just competing - we're proving that cancer may change us, but it doesn't define our limits.
Every training session, every race, every moment of this journey is a testament to the power of the human spirit. We paddle not just for ourselves, but for every person who has heard the words "you have cancer" and wondered what comes next.
We are the answer to that question. What comes next is strength. What comes next is community. What comes next is the chance to represent your country on the world's biggest stage.
This is our story. This is our time. This is Team USA.
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