Moruya paddler Therese Holgate has returned from her trip to the World Dragon Boat Championships in Pattaya, Thailand.
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Holgate represented her country at the event, a culmination of 18 months of trials and training, including four days of training in Thailand to help acclimatise to the conditions.
She was part of the Australian Auroras Senior C (over 60s) team that had a successful campaign. She returned home with five silver medals and two bronze medals.
Holgate competed in the mixed and women's standard boat races over two kilometres, one kilometre, 500 metres, and 200 metres.
Her team narrowly missed out on gold in several of the events, and the competition was tight and intense the whole way.
More than 4000 athletes from 30 countries competed at this year's World Championships, making it the biggest ever.
Holgate said it was a great thrill representing her country, and the spirit in the Australian camp was unforgettable.
"I was so proud to be competing for Australia," she said.
391 athletes made up the Australian team, and there was a large contingent of Australian supporters to make the atmosphere even more exciting.
This was the second time Holgate had competed at the World Championships, and she now sets or sights on the next World Championships in 2021.