About

Adrian Andrews 

Born in Brisbane but living in Canberra for the past couple of years Adrian has always been involved in sport one way or another. Starting boxing at age 16 and after a 14 year long career as an amateur boxer he received some high achievements. The peak of his boxing career was in 2012 to make the final and win silver at the Australian Amateur Boxing Championship in the light heavyweight division. To overcome and two tough elimination bouts against Tasmania and Queensland State he just missed out on a chance to compete in the Commonwealth Games. 

In late 2011 Adrian was introduced into Dragonboating and joined Komodo Paddle Club from which he has been a part of various trips and success with the club. Attempting to balance boxing, paddling and preparing the the 'Tough Mudder' was a huge workload but coming out of all events successful he decided to be a full time paddler committing himself to the sport.  

In 2013 Adrian tried out for the  Australian premier opens team traveling to the World Championships in Hungary, was unsuccessful in this attempt and committed himself fully to training through winter to be successful in making the 2014 squad and to make the first ever Australian opens World Cup squad to be held two weeks after Asian Championship. This is a huge feat for Adrian to be the first indigenous man to reach this level in Dragonboating and to be not successful the year before, his hard working and effort prove he is a true elite athlete. 

Adrian also volunteers his time to the Aboriginal test Embassy regularly cutting firewood and still finds time to maintain his job. 

Major Achievements

2012
Australian Amateur Boxing Championship - light heavyweight Divison - Silver

Tough Mudder Australia - Finishing in the top 5% of the Country 

Guinness Worlds Records - longest distant covered in a dragonboat over 24 hours - 175.5km 

 

Adrian Liszczynsky 

Born in Canberra but coming from a Ukrainian background Adrian started dragonboating while still in school. Suffering from stress fractures in his spine forced him to wait from paddling for a year to maintain a full recovery and since then has had a growing passion for the sport. 

With a history playing AFL his fitness was at the peak and swapping sports has had no negative impact on his body. Sometimes referred to as 'Little Ade' there is nothing small about his strength and passion, with his on and off water commitments. Although fairly new to the sport, with only two seasons experience, he has been willing to participate, help and lead in many ways. 

Adrian stands along side with his family and friends to protest the current events involved with the Ukraine. He is willing to stand and support and fight for a cause to help his home country, gathering at local protests
within Canberra.  

Adrian Currently balances work and paddling effectively.  

Major Achievements 

2013
Australian National Championship - State vs State (Premier) Opens - 500m 4th 

2014
Australian National Championship - State vs State (under 23's) Opens - 500m 4th 

Australian National Championship - State vs State (under 23's) Mixed - 500m 4th 

Marcelo Cabezas

Born and raised in Canberra, Marcelo started dragonboating in 2010 while in grade 9 at St. Edmunds College. Competing locally within Canberra for a number of years, participating as a summer sport to keep active, with no outstanding success or even a win. In 2013 Marcelo was apart of the junior state team, known as ACT Fire, which came out to win Gold in the State vs State day at the Australian National Championships in Penrith, Sydney. During that time he briefly joined the Uni Dragons team to compete at the Australian Championship with  an unsuccessful result.

All in this year Marcelo was also selected to be apart of the first ever Australian under 18 squad for dragonboating to compete at the World Championship, held in Szeged Hungary, in July. During his final year of school, juggling  homework, exams and constant training's he went along to win 2 bronze, 1 silver and 1 gold in various races. After arriving home from Hungary, Marcelo left the Uni Dragons to join the Komodo Paddle Club for which he improve his technique and fitness to go on and again be selected for the Australian Auroras in the opens men side. 

Marcelo currently studies at the University of Canberra and manages to study school and sport accordingly.  

Major Acheivements

2013
Australian National Championship - State vs State (Junior) Opens - 500m 1st
Australian National Championship - State vs State (Junior) Mixed - 500m 3rd

World Championships - Hungary (Junior)  Opens 10's - 200m 1st
World Championships - Hungary (Junior)  Mixed 10's - 200m 2nd
World Championships - Hungary (Junior)  Opens 10's - 500m 3rd
World Championships - Hungary (Junior)  Mixed 10's - 500m 3rd