KILLEEN, TX — Kila Nixon will leave in August to represent the United States in the International Dragon Boat Federation World Championships in Thailand.
Nixon got the news that she made the team in May.
"The first week of April, we went on a week-long training camp and time trials in Tampa, Florida and came back and waited at least 6 weeks. At the back of your head, you're like 'oh wow, maybe I didn't make it," Nixon said.
Nixon is a boxing coach at the EJK Boxing Gym in Killeen, but she also uses it to train herself for her passion--racing.
The US Senior A Team Member trains four days a week on the boat she calls “Wonder Woman” to prepare for the world championships.
"The short and middle distance are about an hour and a half, sometimes two hours for the long distance, and then that's not even including the warm up and warm down, so roughly 3 hours,” Nixon said.
Nixon competed with the United States for the World Championship in China in 2017. She came home with six bronze medals and one silver. She followed that trip to the medal podium with another in 2018 when she received 7 more medals in Georgia.
The tradition is one she plans to continue.
"The medals are all seven each, I have a weird feeling, we might be seeing more gold,” Nixon said.
The International Dragon Boat Federation World Championships kick off in Thailand on August 17. Nixon and her team will be there for ten days, which is why she is looking for sponsors.
If anyone is interested in helping Nixon on her journey, you can contact her at the EJK Boxing & Fitness Club at (254) 319-5132
