Celebrating Matej’s Success at the National Kayaking Championships

Our year 12 learner, Matej, recently achieved an incredible milestone by winning a silver medal in the Open Men’s category at the 2025 Singapore Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe Championships, a category without age distinction. Competing against the nation’s top athletes, Matej showed remarkable skill, determination, and resilience on the water.

We caught up with him to hear more about his journey in sport, from his beginnings in kayaking to training with the Singapore national team, and how passion, perseverance, and resilience have shaped him as both an athlete and a learner.

Hi Matej, congratulations on your silver medal! When did you first start kayaking, and what inspired you to take up the sport?

I started kayaking when I was 11 years old. My hometown in Slovakia is internationally recognised for its incredibly successful history in this sport. It has managed to get more than 15 Olympic medals over the last 20 years. 

Before I started kayaking, I was a very shy and lazy person. I knew I had to make a change, so I got in touch with my friends in town who were kayaking. When I joined them for my first training session, I was amazed by the working environment so much that I stayed there for another 6 years until I decided to leave my comfort zone once again and move to Singapore.

How has your training changed since moving to Singapore?

I moved to Singapore about 2 months ago. Thanks to the contacts I had managed to make before coming here, I now train with the national kayaking team and support them as a training partner and a mentor.

I have to admit that their training schedule is very strict and difficult. Back home, I used to train 12 times a week, but since I now have to balance studying for my IBDP, I can’t make all the training sessions.

Usually, I only train 7-9 times per week. I have to thank Mr Frank for his support in allowing me to use the Nexus gym for training sessions in the morning. It is very time-convenient and practical.

What does a typical training week look like for you?

Monday: Core workout, easy aerobic paddling session
Tuesday: Gym session in the morning at Nexus, paddle session in the afternoon
Wednesday: Threshold paddling session, core workout and light run
Thursday: Morning gym session, and one anaerobic paddling session in the afternoon
Friday: Threshold paddling session and a gym session, all in the afternoon
Saturday: Light run, sometimes another gym session and the last paddling session of the week
Sundays are off, thankfully!

Can you tell us about your experience at the Singapore National Championships?

During one of my training sessions with the national team, my current coach approached me and asked whether I wanted to join the competition. I said yes, why not? The day before the race, I found out that the coach had signed me up for the wrong discipline, but I still joined.

I competed in the Open Men’s category (without age distinction). The 500m track on which I raced is known for its difficulty. If I had to compare it to something, it would be equivalent to 400m in track and field. The lactate which your body creates throughout the course is unbearable in the last meters. Fortunately, I managed to save up a chunk of energy in heats and made it to the semi-finals. 

The semi-finals were really close, and I managed to qualify from second place to the final. I already knew that I could get a medal, so before the start of the finals, I started to mentally prepare more. I visualised my race, warmed up and went for it.

When the race started, I knew that I could gain an extra advantage with my strong start. I set a high stroke rate to create the biggest advantage possible against the competitors. When I approached the last 200 meters, lactate acid started to kick in. As we progressed to the last 100-meter mark, I gave it everything I could. 

For a while, I even took the lead, but then the guy next to me had a better finish. I had to settle for second place. I was furious but happy at the same time. At the end of the day, it is okay to be beaten by a 22-year-old professional, especially when I am new to the sport in Singapore. I can’t have everything, I guess!

What did winning the medal mean to you?

The medal was a reward for my hard work over all these years. Before getting the medal, I didn’t realise that the race was part of the national championships. I laughed so much when I found out after the race. It is always very nice to get a medal, especially when you train really hard for it.

How do you balance training with your IBDP studies at Nexus?

The balance between school and sport is challenging. I enjoy training and having a good time with my friends at the kayak club, but sometimes I have to end early to focus on school. Thankfully, I can handle it pretty well since I have mastered my time-management skills. I can balance both school pretty well and focus 100% on the one set task in front of me. It took me a lot of time to adjust it in a way that I can have achievements from both sides of my life (academic and sports). The first month had been difficult since I had to get used to the new environment.

Who is your sporting idol?

My biggest sporting idol is Erik Vlcek. He is a 10-time world champion and 4-time Olympic medalist from my home town. He is basically a friend to me. What I admire most about him is the fact that he has managed to have an incredible career, even after he retired from this beautiful sport. He is a demonstration of resilience, hard work and brilliance.

What advice would you give to other Nexus learners who want to pursue a sport professionally?

If I had to advise younger learners at Nexus on pursuing their dreams, I would tell them to be consistent and disciplined. The times when you don’t want to go to the training, but you still go, will make the biggest difference. 

Set smaller, achievable goals that would then lead to your big one. Don’t be afraid to ask, decide, and thrive. 

You should also always be very thankful for your parents. Personally, without their support, I would not be here.

We are incredibly proud of Matej’s achievement and congratulate him on his silver medal. His story is a powerful reminder of the resilience, commitment, and passion that sport can inspire in our learners.

At Nexus, sport is about more than competition. It is about developing character, fostering teamwork, and encouraging every learner to push beyond their limits. Matej’s journey is a shining example of what can be achieved when talent meets perseverance, and we look forward to seeing where his athletic and academic journey will take him next.