Fun facts about the world of Dragon Boat Racing
Dragon boat racing is about 2,000 years old? It dates as far back as the original Olympiad in ancient Greece and originated in the Pearl River Delta region in China’s southern Guangdong Province.
Dragon boat races (originally) honour the patriotic poet Qu Yuan (c. 340–278 BC), who drowned himself in the Miluo River to protest government corruption?
The traditional food consumed at dragon boat racing is called “Zongzi” (sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves) and is eaten to symbolize the rice thrown into the river to keep fish from eating Qu Yuan’s body?
Modern-day dragon boat racing began in Hong Kong? The city held the first international dragon boat race back in 1976, which became the basis of this annual sport we currently practise.
The first major international race in North America was at the 1986 Expo in Vancouver, Canada?
Dragon boat racing is listed as a UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage?
A racing dragon boat averages about 10mph, and really good teams can get it up to double that speed? That’s 80 strokes per minute…think about that!
Dragon boating is practised in at least 89 countries and the boats can vary in size, from just 10 paddlers to up to 50?!
Sharon has only been in the sport for 3 years but already has earned 12 medals (as of the 2025 season)?