British national Ellen Field may be confined to a wheelchair, but she sure can paddle and is taking home a gold medal from the International Va'a Federation World Distance Championship 2023.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, the 22-year-old athlete could not stop smiling, as she spoke fondly about her wonderful experience in Samoa paddling under the sun and chatting with friendly people.

"Definitely coming back to Samoa again," she said. "It was my first time doing 12K and also my first time doing a few 200 meters so it was good for the first time. 

"It was a bit tough in some areas where it was a bit wavy but I liked it and it's very nice weather.

"Really enjoyed it, everyone is so lovely and I've just chatted to everyone and I think more than I enjoy racing just meeting everyone else and watching the Masters at it and they're doing it."

Ms. Field only just started paddling six months ago, although she is used to kayaking before but now prefers paddling.

She won a gold medal on the third day of the week-long championship in the VL3 para and this is her first ever international tournament and medal.

There were other para-paddlers in different categories depending on the disability of the paddler with their unrelenting dedication inspiring other participants.

Since 2002, para-paddlers have competed at IVF World Sprint Championships with developments in equipment, rules and classifications evolving over that time.

Another para-paddler, 70-year-old Volker Briel from Germany was also impressed by Samoa, despite his concerns about the rough seas compared to the waters back in his homeland.

He had been paddling for over 20 years but only started paddling with one leg about a decade ago after his other leg got amputated.

"In Germany, we only have flat water to train, we live just in the middle of Germany, where there is no sea so these conditions for us are very unknown but it's okay and that's the reason why Germany is always at the back," he said.

"But it's been a great journey so far. It's a beautiful country and the people are very friendly but handling visitors is much different than in Germany and Europe and the U.S."

Mr. Briel, who is in Samoa with his family and the German paddling team, also expressed concerns about the customer service provided to him by several car rental companies in Samoa.

"When we tried to order a rental, they said to pay a deposit in cash from Germany, when I thought all this time that we can pay online and even when we got here it has been difficult and that's the only problem," he said.