When I started kayaking in Belarus at ten, I wasn’t thinking about national titles. I liked being outside, training with other kids, and having a coach who believed in me before I had achieved anything.
That encouragement gradually became a commitment. I earned national youth medals and entered the Olympic Reserve School in Belarus. Still, I wanted to keep racing without giving up my education.
Arseni Mashko (left) on the podium in Belarus in 2019
In January 2022, at sixteen, I visited San Diego for training and tryouts. That August, now seventeen, I returned to begin studying at Point Loma Nazarene University with scholarship support and training with the San Diego Canoe & Kayak Team.
The language barrier was difficult. Classes, conversations, and everyday tasks took extra effort. My coach, Chris Barlow, helped with transportation, communication, and finding my feet. Paddling gave me familiar ground while almost everything else was new.
In 2023, I won the Junior Men’s K1 200m and K1 500m events at the U.S. Sprint Team Trials. But moving beyond junior racing brought uncertainty: national team eligibility requirements meant that racing for a place on Team USA was not yet an option. Keeping that goal alive took patience.
In 2026, I won the Senior Men’s K1 200m and, with Walker Peck, K2 200m at the ACA Sprint National Championships. Behind those victories were years of encouragement from coaches, teammates, and family.
2026 ACA National Championships, Walter Peck (left) and Arseni Mashko (right)
Now I also help younger paddlers at our club. I remember what it meant to have someone patient beside me at the beginning.
My story began with a coach making room for one more child. I hope to help someone else find their place on the water.
About the Author
Arseni Mashko is a sprint kayaker from Belarus. He now lives in San Diego, California where he studies data science at Point Loma Nazarene University and races for the San Diego Canoe & Kayak Team. This year, he won the Senior Men’s K1 200m and K2 200m titles at the 2026 ACA Sprint National Championships.
This story is published as part of the 2026 ACA Story Project, a month-long collection of stories written by ACA members. Without opportunity, these stories wouldn’t exist. That’s what the ACA does. Through education, stewardship, competition, and club support, we create opportunities for paddlers of all abilities. Your gift helps write the next chapter. Help us raise $25,000 by December 1 for the next paddler, and the one after that.
