US Woman Medals at World Championships in Sprint Canoe

Hannah Menke, age 23, member of Team USA and a member of Rockaway
Olympic Canoe and Kayak Club, took home two silver medals in women's
sprint canoe from the International Canoe Federation's World
Championships, held August 12-16 in Nova Scotia. Sprint canoe is an
Olympic sport that is distinguished from rowing by its forward-looking
stance and from kayak by its use of a single-bladed, as contrasted to
double-bladed, paddle. Races are held on straight 200 and 500 meter
long courses.

Hannah, who has been canoeing since age 12, is the US National Champion in
the 200 and 500 meter events. She spent the last year preparing for the World
Championships, under the supervision of her coach, former-Olympian Rafael
Islamov. Her strict daily routine included weight lifting, running and
paddling, on the canals of Florida during the winter and at the American Canoe
Association facility on Lake Sebago, New York, in summer. During her
training, Hannah followed her coach's low-carb diet and added thirty pounds
of muscle, shedding ten pounds of fat in the process.

In April, Hannah earned her place on Team USA by winning seven of eight
events qualifying events at USA Canoe/Kayak's Team Trails in Chula Vista,
California.

This year's World Championships were held on a newly-constructed course on
Lake Banook in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Athletes from over seventy countries
pitted their skills against one another in four days of racing of both kayaks
and canoes. The Championship was well attended, with the lakeshore crowded
with spectators and vendors. Conditions were ideal, with moderate
temperatures, clear skies and a light headwind. Hannah raced in "Conch", her
blue Nelo Vanquish II racing canoe, using a Braca-20 paddle.

Hannah had an excellent start during the first race, the 500-meter event, and
was soon a boat length and half in front of the pack. Unfortunately, the
Canadian competitor had an even better start, and was soon a boat length and
a half ahead of Hannah, a distance Hannah was unable to close. She finished
with a time of 2:29.630. Hannah's second race, the 200 meter, was only three
hours after her first, leaving little time for recovery. She had a slower start
and was momentarily at the back of the pack, but picked up in the last 50 meters,
edging out the Brazilians competitor for second place, but not the Canadian,
who took the gold. She finished with a time of 58.839. Hannah says that she
followed her coach's instructions of all-out paddling, with darkness closing in
at the edges of her vision, in order to achieve these results.

Photos:
www.ldeo.columbia.edu/users/menke/menke09rel/menke_race.jpg
Hannah Menke (foreground) at start of 200 meter event w
www.ldeo.columbia.edu/users/menke/menke09rel/menke_podium.jpg
Hannah Menke (left) receiving silver medal, along side of Canadian gold and
Brazilian bronze medalists.

Note: Permission is hereby granted for unrestricted use of text and photos.

Contact:
Hannah Menke
845-558-1452
Hannah.Menke@gmail.com

Tags: Canoe Sprint