Teacher, Mayor, Governor and Olympian are the goals 11-year-old Mia Mazurkiewicz has set for herself. Every day she moves closer to accomplishing these goals.
Each career day at school, Mia either is a teacher or a scientist. She helps her dad, former Cape Coral Mayor Joe Mazurkiewicz, with his duties as liaison to the Youth Council. She has met the Governor of Florida, Rick Scott, and he invited her to go to his office and sit at his desk “so she can get a feel for the job.”
Mia has taken steps to realize some of those goals. Her personal goal to be a Sprint Kayak Olympian is where her steps turn into strokes. Thousands upon thousands of strokes on the water at her home club, The Southwest Florida Canoe & Kayak Club.
Recently, the hard work, dedication and sacrifice have paid off. At 11 years old, she and her teammates took Bronze in the 2018 Sprint Canoe & Kayak Nationals. Mia raced in the K4 (4-person kayak) against clubs from across the country, along with teammates Savannah Lynch, Sophie Gunderson and Kayla Rogers.
Mia and her teammates spent their summer on the water to prepare physically, mentally and emotionally for the competition. Every day she was on the water at 7 am doing sprints, practicing her starts and honing her craft. She would break during the late morning and early afternoon and reconvene late in the afternoon to run and lift weights, anything to improve her endurance.
Mia knew she would be competing against clubs triple the size of her club and with the latest in training equipment and technology. However, what Mia has that sets her and her teammates apart from these clubs is heart, tenacity and coaches that never let them quit.
Mia began kayaking when she was eight years old. She fell in love with the sport almost immediately. Many don’t realize that kayaking is different from canoeing, recreational kayaking or even rowing.
Mia is quick to correct when her sport is compared to rowing. “No. I kayak in a very tippy boat. I paddle forward. Rowers row backwards,” she will explain with a bit of sass in her tone and a slight eye roll.
Each year the club bestows the ASPIRE Award to one member whose actions go above and beyond the sport. ASPIRE is an acronym for Attitude, Sportsmanship, Perseverance, Initiative, Respect and Enjoyment & Emotional Development.
This past year, Mia was the recipient of this award. Her coaches explained that every time someone tipped over or needed help with their boat, Mia was there ready to assist. She never cut corners on any of her runs or sprint patterns and she was a team player.
We are thankful to South Florida Canoe and Kayak Club for bringing such a wonderful sport to our area. Mia’s current goal for the 2019 Nationals is to medal in a K1 event. It is a monumental goal since her age group places her in a division against 15-year old’s. With her heart, dedication and coaches, we know we will see her again on that podium with a medal around her neck!!
Good Luck Mia. Paddle Strong. You are definitely a Kid with Style!
