Bob Wink has once again successfully represented Canada on the world stage.
Wink, 52, won gold at the World Rowing Masters Regatta in France last week in the 101 – Men’s E 4+ category. This week, the Orillia native competed at the World Water Ski Championships.
“We’ve been fortunate enough that this was our third time rowing at Worlds,” Wink said. “It’s also our third time getting on the podium.”
For both championships, Wink trained for 15 to 22 hours a week for the last 10 months.
“I enjoyed the chance to compete and the chance to stay in shape,” he said.
As soon as gold was around Wink’s neck from the Masters Regatta, he had to turn his focus to the World Water Ski Championships.
“I had one day off in between events,” said Wink, who was nominated as Orillia's Athlete of the Year in 2019. “The water skiing didn’t go as well as I anticipated.”
Trying to win two world championships in back-to-back weeks was just too ambitious, Wink says. He fell short of making the final in the water ski event.
“It was a true honour to ski with the national team again this year,” he said. “To represent Canada was gratifying, but you always want to make the final.”
Wink is now headed to the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest two-day rowing race in the world.
“I’m ready for the next challenge,” he said.
Wink recently sold his business, Windmill Garden Centre and Landscaping, in order to spend more time with his family and also spend more time out on the water training.
“I’m even more focused on trying to keep my spot at this level,” he said. “I’ll be spending a lot more time on it.”
