Nikita Carroll is all smiles after bringing home two gold medals from the recent Paddle NSW Marathon State Championships held in Canberra on March 9 and 10.
For the well-known kayaking enthusiast, it was a job well done as she was victorious in the U18 Female Best Marathon Paddler and in the U18 Best Short Course Paddler divisions.
In her three-kilometre short course event, Nikita beat her personal-best time, and said she also delivered good times on her long-distance marathon paddle.
Despite being in her own category, due to numbers, Nikita raced alongside competitors from older age divisions.
She said it was a daunting experience.
“I was actually the youngest person on the water,” she said.
“It was an interesting race because they put me in with the open women's, which they (the racers) are international world-class competitors,” she said.
Despite her fears, Nikita said she was proud of what she had achieved and how far she has gone in her chosen sport.
Nikita also competed in the recent Victorian School Marathon and Sprint Championships at Nagambie on Sunday, March 17.
She said it was a bittersweet event for her. Though she enjoyed it, being in Year 12 this year meant it would be her last school kayaking event.
For her final competition, Nikita competed in the singles and doubles U18 marathon and singles and doubles U18 200-metre sprints.
“I came back with three bronze medals in double and single marathon and double sprints,” Nikita said.
Competition was tight, with more than 140 boats on the water, resulting in several spills and broken boats by the end of the day.
Even a seasoned professional like Nikita couldn’t escape the chaos.
“I fell in twice personally,” she said.
Though Nikita will be saying farewell to the Victorian School Marathon and Sprint Championships in Nagambie, the 17-year-old kayaking star is looking forward to the next challenge.
“On April 3, I go to Adelaide to begin Nationals,” Nikita said.
“So I’ve got two weeks to prepare for that.”