Therese Holgate will head to southeast Asia next week as part of the Australian Dragon Boat team, the Auroras.

This is Therese's second campaign with the Auroras, as she was also a part of the Senior B (over 50s) team that won two gold medals and two silver medals at the World Championships in China two years ago.

This year's World Championships will attract more than 4000 athletes from 28 countries, and competition is expected to be fierce.

The event takes place over five days from August 21 to 25, with races ranging from 200 metres to 2000 metres.

This achievement is the culmination of more than a year of intense training for Therese. Physical testing took place last August, and paddlers were then chose to undergo water trials and further physical testing in Melbourne last December.

Therese has been following a testing gym and on-water training regime since being named in the squad earlier this year. She will participate in the Senior C (over 60s) team.

Therese faces unique challenges as one of the only regional paddlers in the squad. Self-motivation is vital, and Therese has been starting each day in the gym, running, or out on the water.

She's been travelling to Sydney three or four times a week to train with the Sydney-based Auroras for the past 10 weeks.

Therese is extremely appreciative of the support of her club.