Makayla Timoti at the Va'a World Sprint Championships. Photo/Supplied
Makayla Timoti finished on the podium in five of the six races she contested in at the International Va'a Federation World Sprint Championships in Tahiti.
The John Paul College student went to the 18th world championships in July with other New Zealand paddlers.
There she won three gold medals and two silver. Makayla, 17, said she had been preparing for the championships since October last year with both land and water-based training.
She said the achievements were surreal.
"It was surreal, and it still kind of is, but we're just so happy," she said.
Makayla said the hardest races were the W12 and W6 races which the team achieved gold in.
"We were trying to retain the titles from 2016. It definitely was a lot of pressure because we knew our whole New Zealand waka ama community was counting on us to retain the titles," she said.
"It was a personal achievement."
The racing ran from July 21 to 26 and took place in Taaone Bay off the city of Pirae on the main island of Tahiti.
More than 2100 paddlers from 34 countries raced in the Elite World Championships and Club World Championships held over the course of the event.
Makayla said there were a lot of reasons she loved Va'a, also known as Waka Ama.
"I've always loved being around the water, it's a family atmosphere. I like the racing because it's such an adrenaline high. You crave to go back for more," she said.
"I have a lot of people behind me that helped support me and put time into me, like by coach Uncle Ray and his wife who supported me as well as others."
Makayla paddles for Hei Matau Paddlers.
Makayla's success
- New Zealand Elite Premier Woman W12 – Gold medal
- New Zealand Elite Junior Woman W6 1000m – Gold Medal, setting also the new
world record for the fastest time since 2006.
- New Zealand Elite Junior Woman 500m – Gold Medal
- New Zealand Elite V1 – Silver Medal
- New Zealand Club representative – W12 – Silver Medal
She has outlived her one-year life expectancy and focuses on the positive: 'I am living'