This narration is from the standpoint of a spectator. It represents my conceptualization of the participatory races in Florence with tunnel vision focused on the Knot A Breast (KAB) team. Specifically, my childhood and lifelong best friend is on this team. It is also my mother who predominates this narration. She was a competitive athlete before a tragic car accident changed the course of her life. She was one of the most courageous women I have ever known and had a hearty serving of challenges throughout her life to demonstrate it. My mother passed away from breast cancer when I was thirty-one years old after an aggressive battle, yet it was her strength and fierce determination that is most memorable.
When my husband and I arrived in Florence for the final race day, we were in awe of the undulating landscape filled with vibrant dragon boat teams, a sea of pink dotting the Arno River. We were on a mission to find our friends. This challenge felt like finding Waldo in the thick crowd of spectators, yet we spotted them photographing Round 3, Race 25 and the Knot A Breast Dragon Boat Team racing in Lane 3, their second last race of the festival. As a spectator, this race made my heart pound with the intensity of the final. It included New Zealand, two USA teams, Italy, and Canada’s Knot-A-Breast team who we came to support. We watched the Canadian dragon boat team finish in third place. There was one final race to be run at the 2018 IBCPC Festival; the excitement was palpable and sizzling energy rippled through the crowds on the riverbank.