Medals, Milestones, and Memories

What a weekend to be out on the water! Last Saturday, 4 Bucks teams (Fury, Freedom Women, Freedom Mixed and Fusion Mixed) headed down to the Cooper River Dragon Boat Festival, and to say we left it all out on the course would be an understatement. From the very first horn to the final sprint across the finish line, it was a day defined by grit, synchronization, and an incredible amount of heart. The hard work our teams have been putting into our training completely paid off. Thanks to the sheer power, focus, and synchronization of our paddlers, we locked into perfect rhythm and brought home the medals! Standing on that podium together, holding up our hardware, was the perfect validation of every practice, every grueling piece, and every single stroke we’ve taken together this season.

The Power of the Blue

There is nothing quite like looking down at the Athletes’ Village and seeing that sea of blue. When we wear our colors, we aren’t just a collection of paddlers. We are a unified force. Leaving it all on the water is so much easier when you know exactly who is sitting in front of you, behind you, and pulling right alongside you. The energy, the focus, and the pride of representing our team in blue was palpable in every single heat.

Camaraderie and Great Times Off the Water

While the racing was fast and furious, the highlights of the day happened between the racing. The true magic of this club is our camaraderie. From the laughs under the team tents to cheering each other on until our voices were hoarse, it was just an absolute blast. Dragon boat racing is about speed, but it’s also about the family you build along the way. The smiles, the high-fives, and the shared exhaustion at the end of the day reminded us all why we love this sport so much. Congratulations to Freedom Mixed for their Gold Medal Win io the A Minor’s and to Fusion Mixed for their Gold Medal Win in the A Majors.

Thank you to all of our incredible coaches, managers, supporters, our drummers for keeping us honest, our steerers for keeping us straight, and every single teammate who gave 100% to the boat. Cooper River 2026 is officially one for the books—now, let’s carry this momentum into our next race!

Check out our photo gallery below to see some of our favorite snapshots of the action, the medals, and our amazing team in blue!