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Javi de Cardenas, a Palmetto Bay resident and a senior at Belen Jesuit High School, made Florida Scholastic Rowing Association (FSRA) history by winning back-to-back LW Varsity Single Sculler State Championships in 2022 and 2023.
Statewide there were 98 entries that qualified and the final 16 were invited to the State Championship in Sarasota on Apr. 15 and 16.
De Cardenas is a straight “A” student, plays the drums at the 1 p.m. Mass at Saint Louis Catholic Church, and is the co-captain of his crew team. Born with a number of health problems, he has consistently found ways to overcome adversity.
Javi’s dad, Dr. Andrés de Cardenas, said that it required extra effort for his son this time.
He is understandably proud of his son.
“Since it’s his senior year it has been even more demanding on him because of all his applications for college,” Dr. de Cardenas said. “He’s been doing everything, and at the same time trying to stay competitive since he hasn’t been able to practice as much as he used to. The week before, the coach took the kids and worked them out two to three times a day.
“In the race Javi’s giving it everything there is and then some. Javi and the other rower were ahead of all the rest. Their stroke rate was higher than the average. The announcer called it the race of the day,” Dr. de Cardenas added. “At the end of the race Javi gave it all he had in order to pull ahead and win. He has overcome so much. To see how he’s developed to be the man that he is, it’s amazing.”
The team coach at Belen is Yunian Cabrera.
Javi de Cardenas acknowledges the importance of the training program. That it’s not just about training your muscles, it’s also about training your mind.
“This year really meant a lot to me,” Javi said. “This year the race was a bit more of a tough race. It was super close a good majority of the race. At Belen we had the mentality that no matter how much energy you think you have, you always have a little bit more.
“Training the way we do for crew, so intensely, no one can say it’s easy. That final sprint that I did at the end, that’s because of training. Training makes the difference. And then I said, Lord, give me strength. I just kept pushing and speeding up and speeding up,” Javi added.
He said that there was a lot of pain in making the effort and that after he had crossed the finish line there was barely enough strength left in his legs, which are as important in rowing as the arms, to make it back to the dock. He said that the training was not just about sports.
“That push helps you succeed in other things. It teaches you something. It’s made me a lot better for who I am,” Javi concluded.
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