Alex Walker will represent Canada on the world stage in two weeks time.
The former Jasperite was selected as one of 24 Canadian rowers to travel to Austria to compete in the 2013 World Rowing Under-23 Championships from July 24-28.
Walker, who now resides in Victoria, B.C. and rows with the Vikes rowing team at the University of Victoria, will compete in the lightweight men’s double with his rowing mate Dylan Harris.
The men were paired together while competing to become a part of the national lightweight team earlier this year, and they just won first place in the men’s double at the USRowing National Championships in New Jersey last month.
“I think everything is starting to come together for us,” said Walker. “It’s been a high pressure situation, but we’ve responded pretty well and we’re feeling pretty confident.”
Walker has had his sights on the worlds for six years, so he said “it’s surreal” to finally be in a position to go. “It’s going to be kind of crazy to be there. Obviously I’m nervous, but I’m nervous and excited.”
He’s also ready for it all to be over, though. He said aside from going to Europe for his first time, he’s really looking forward to crossing the final finish line.
“I obviously want to do well, I want to win, but when it’s over, it’s over and I get to go home and reflect and lie down for awhile. It’s going to be nice. I will have two weeks until the university season starts.”
Walker has been living in Ontario all summer, training and competing.
He will arrive in Austria on July 15 and will train for a week before the competition.
“We have boats in Europe, so we’ll get acquainted with our new equipment and the atmosphere is obviously different than here, so we’ll get used to that and then we’ll move over to the regatta course a day before the race.”
After the championship, which includes rowers from 22 countries, he will return to Victoria, where he will continue on with his recreation and physical health degree, while competing and training with the Vikes. Next summer, he hopes to again be selected for the Under-23 national team and to compete in the international championships. After next year, he will be too old to compete with that team, so he’ll move on to the next category, and from there he hopes to land a spot on the 2016 Olympic team—“knock on wood.”
“The Olympics is one of those things where you don’t know if you’ll actually be able to do it until you’ve done it. But the Olympics is the goal.”
To follow Walker as he competes in Austria, visit worldrowing.com and click World Rowing Under-23 Championships on the events page.
Nicole Veerman
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