This July, the rhythmic pulse of drums and paddles will echo across Brandenburg, Germany as more than 4,000 elite athletes from more than 30 countries compete in the 17th IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships — the most prestigious event in the sport’s international calendar.
Among them? 14-year-old Ysabella Cajanding from Bellflower — making waves on the Junior U.S. National Team.
“These kids have made sacrifices for two years preparing for Germany, and I couldn’t be more proud,” said Nathan Salazar, Team USA coach.
Dragon boat racing, a sport with roots dating back over 2,000 years in China, is now one of the fastest-growing water sports worldwide. It combines fierce physical endurance, flawless timing, and team unity — teams of 20 paddlers race in sync to the beat of a drum aboard 40-foot-long boats adorned with traditional dragon heads and tails. It’s a spectacle of culture, community and competition.
“I want to bond with my team, make memories, and hopefully win gold,” Ysabella said about the upcoming trip to Germany. ”I like the community it creates with my teammates. We’re working together, paddling together and winning together.”
For Ysabella, this journey started when she was just seven years old, paddling alongside her dad Rex who has competed for over two decades. By age 12, she was making history, competing internationally in Thailand, where she brought home three gold medals and two silvers, becoming the youngest competitor at the 16th IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Competition.
“I started because I saw my dad doing this sport. He’s been a part of it since before I was born, and he saw my interest growing and put me in the boat with him. Now, I’ve been paddling for half my life,” Ysabella said.
Now, Ysabella and Rex are not just father and daughter, but also teammates representing Team USA on the global stage. Their shared passion for dragon boat racing has built more than strength, it’s deepened their bond and created a legacy of teamwork and resilience.
When she’s not on the water, she prioritizes her wellness and conditioning for the sport. According to a nationwide survey conducted by Planet Fitness, teens believe physical activity helps deal with emotional ups and downs of being a teenager, and 93 percent agree that regular exercise is beneficial when handling challenges.
“Watching my daughter grow through sports and at the gym, I’ve seen how it strengthens more than just her body—it gives her confidence, clears her mind, and helps her face the daily challenges teens deal with today. She also has our full support. Her mother, Liz, provides her with good nutrition and mental stability, always reminding her that she’s a student before an athlete,” said Ysabella’s father, Rex.
Ysabella is a regular at her neighborhood Planet Fitness, where she utilizes Team USA coach-approved machines that target the back, shoulders and core muscle groups she needs to excel as an athlete. She works out at Planet Fitness three times a week, noting that the gym has lots of space for her to complete her fitness routine.
“I have an athlete mentality, and I’m thankful that my local Planet Fitness has the space for what I need to accomplish. It’s hard to find a good gym that’s not overcrowded,” said Ysabella.
She especially enjoys the resistance bands for assisted pull-ups, something that not every nearby gym provides. Both Ysabella and Rex use the massage chairs and hydromassage beds at Planet Fitness to cool down and recover their sore muscles. What’s more uplifting, 90 percent of teens say exercise helps them feel happy, with 88 percent noting improved mood after exercise noted by the survey.
Whether they are training for a sport or just want to get in some healthy exercise, Planet Fitness is dedicated to investing in teen wellness. The franchise is offering free memberships to high school students and athletes nationwide ages 14-19 from now until Aug. 31 as part of Planet Fitness’s annual High School Summer Pass Program. For more information on how to sign up, head to planetfitness.com/summerpass.
