EARLY YEARS
Can you share with us your earliest memory of being introduced to your sport?
I signed up to rowing at the freshers fair at the University of Northampton, I mainly carried on because of the friends I made, we had a lot of fun. I started to get really serious about the sport years after when I was accepted onto the GB World Class Start rowing programme. Now known as GB High Performance Academies.
Tell us about your first success in your sport?
I won my first ever race in 2014 at Leicester regatta, I medalled at my first international regatta in Belgrade at World Cup 1 2022. Even though one was just a small local regatta and I was a novice, and the other was on the world stage, I still got exactly the same buzz and excitement from both.
What was the name of your first sports club?
University of Northampton
GRASSROOTS
What inspired you to try your sport/take it further?
I tried the sport because I hadn’t previously found a sport that I was good at and enjoyed. I am tall and have very long arms and these just seemed to get in the way in every other sport. For rowing, though, this was perfect, I had a natural strength and fitness and could really see the sport going somewhere. I only ever dreamed of doing my sport at maybe county level or something similar to that, never did I think I’d be representing my country.
Any inspirational people, coaches or mentors who played a key role?
Hamish Burrell, the coach who first accepted me onto GB Start, even though I wasn’t good at rowing and had never taken it seriously, he really believed in me. I’m also inspired by my team mates’ past and present. I’m in regular contact with Fran Houghton who has been to 5 Olympics in rowing and I’m always asking for advice.
What would you say to someone thinking about trying your sport?
DO IT, not only do you get to enjoy the water and nature which has so many benefits, you’ll meet some great people and make friends for life. Rowing has given me so many opportunities I wouldn’t otherwise have had.
What do you wish you’d known when you first started out?
I wish I’d have started the sport earlier.
What initiatives are happening to get people into your sport?
There are so many local clubs offering Learn to Row courses for beginners which are really fun. GB now has performance development academy’s across the country which is a similar initiative to what got me into the sport, if you’re tall and have the right attributes they’ll want to hear form you. University’s are another great way of getting into my sport.
MOTIVATION
Did you face any major obstacles? How did you overcome them?
In 2015 I had a horse riding accident which left me in a coma and paralysed. Even though this was years before me taking up rowing, the effects of my accident were still quite obvious in the gym and out on the water. I had to work hard on my co-ordination and strength.
Do you think that getting involved in sport changed you as a person?
100%, sport has given me so many skills I didn’t have before. I’ve learnt resilience, discipline, team work, commitment to name a few. The list is really endless.
Any funny stories from your early years in sport?
My first ever time in a single…thinking it would be easy I pushed of the dock and fell straight in… it’s a lot harder than it looks. I’ve fallen in countless times.
HEROES
Were there any particular role models or athletes who influenced your decision to pursue your sport?
I remember in some of my very first rowing outings saying to my partner “I want to win a gold medal in rowing at the Olympics” and I’m a stubborn person so when I say I’m going to do something I always try my best to do just that. I used to follow people of the GB Rowing team and try and beat or match their scores though…particularly on the rowing machine.
What challenges would say you faced when starting out, and how did you overcome them?
I actually applied for the GB Start program twice, the first time I was rejected. I’m a very stubborn person though and won’t take no for an answer so a few years later I tried out again and was successful.
Which sportspeople do you admire now, and why?
I admire every single person in sport, particularly at international level. I know how hard we all work to get those medals and wins so I have so much respect for everyone. I admire my own team mates at GB rowing so much though, they really make the sport for me.
TRAINING
How often do you train?
I train 6 days a week, 3 times day (rowing takes up almost 100% of my time)
Describe a typical training session…
First sessions will almost always be on the water and we’ll be out there for almost 2 hours doing a whole host of different sessions
What is your favourite training session/exercise/drill?
I love crew boats and racing, so anything where in in a boat with my friends and we’re getting the rate and speed up excites me.
Which part of your body suffers the most in your sport?
Definitely your legs and back- sometimes when I go to bed my legs are literally aching because they’re so tired.
What’s the toughest thing about being an athlete?
We train on the water all year round, so being out in the wind rain and sometimes snow isn’t something I enjoy. If a race hasn’t gone to plan and I didn’t get the result I wanted as well, that’s pretty tough, you always learn the most from those races though.
What’s the hardest part/skill in your sport to master?
Everything about the rowing stroke, it looks so simple but it really isn’t.
