INFORMATION PORTAL OF THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE OF THE KUJAWSKO-POMORSKIE Region IN TORUŃ

Interview with Wojciech Dajewski, president of the Dragon Chełmno Sports Club, enthusiast and promoter of dragon boats in the region.

 

The Dragon Spirit in Chełmno – how did it all begin?

 

Our story goes back to 2005. That’s when, together with Jarosław Szymański and Tomasz Freund, we founded the Dragon Chełmno Water Sports Association. The inspiration came from the workplace team Dragon Adriana Kijewo, in which we ourselves competed. I remember that the first meeting of the founding group was held at Marek Klimek’s place, “Na Górce.”

 

The first official start of the Dragon Chełmno crew took place on July 1, 2006. We practically started from scratch – we had no equipment or facilities, but we had great determination and enthusiasm. Zbyszek Piękoś, then the leaseholder of the center at Lake Starogrodzkie, helped us by providing a space for equipment… which we didn’t even have yet! Meanwhile, Włodzimierz Schmidt, president of the Polish Dragon Boat Federation, lent us our first 20-person boat. And that’s how our adventure began. The first president of the club was Jarosław Szymański.

 

 

The Daniel Bryda Memorial – a sporting legend that continues to inspire. Who was he and why is his figure so important to the dragon boat community?

 

Daniel was our childhood friend and a canoeist with the Nadwiślanin Chełmno club. He was also one of the founders of Dragon and represented our club from the very beginning. In 2009, together with him and Tomasz Freund, we competed at the World Championships in Račice, Czech Republic. Unfortunately, Daniel fell ill with cancer and passed away at just 30 years old. He remained connected to the club until the end of his life, which is why we decided to honor his memory. During our annual competitions, we hold a special memorial race in his name over a distance of 1000 meters. It’s a symbolic way to ensure he is always with us on the water.

 

Not Just Muscles – what does it really take to become a dragon boat athlete?

 

Dragon boating has its roots in canoeing; it’s a sport that requires strength and endurance. But arm power alone is not enough. The most important things are synchronization and rhythm, because the team has to paddle in perfect unison. A crew consists of 10 or 20 athletes, supported by a helm and a drummer, who sets the pace by beating the drum in sync with the first pair of paddlers – the so-called “stroke pair.”

 

To train, you need motivation, self-discipline, and a bit of free time.

 

 

From Amateurs to Professionals – who takes a seat in dragon boats? On the course, crews from different worlds meet. What sets them apart, and what brings them together?

 

The most beautiful thing about this discipline is that anyone can practice it. In Poland, we divide participants into categories:

• Amateur – people who sometimes get into the boat for the very first time
• Fan – athletes who take part in competitions but don’t train regularly
• Sport – those who train several times a week, compete in the Polish Championships, and represent the country on the international stage

 

Thanks to this, dragon boating is open both to recreation and to high-level competition. Many regattas in Poland are also organized for workplaces and community groups – it’s a great way to build team spirit and spend time actively.

 

 

Dragon Boats in Poland – a niche curiosity or a sport with a future?

 

When we founded the club nearly 20 years ago, we didn’t know how it would develop. Today it’s clear that dragon boats have a real future. New clubs are being established, more and more events are taking place, and the Polish national team competes and succeeds at European and World Championships.

 

We have won more than 30 Polish Championship medals, competing with major centers such as Warsaw, Gdańsk, Szczecin, and Poznań. Our athletes regularly make it onto the national team. In 2025 alone, as many as 11 people from our club represented Poland at the World Championships in Brandenburg, bringing home three medals – one silver and two bronze.

 

But we are not resting on our laurels. Our club continues to grow, new athletes are joining, and next year we will be competing for spots on the national team for the European Championships in Munich.

 

Dragon boats are no longer just a niche curiosity. They are a sport with character, a spirit of teamwork, and enormous potential. And Chełmno, thanks to the work of our club, has undoubtedly secured its place on the map of this discipline in Poland.

 

August 22, 2025