Hi there! I’m Katie the Oxford Physics Graduate and Katie the Lightweight Rower. I used to think these were basically two different personalities for me but now I am realising that they are intertwined more than I ever realised and I want to apply my scientific background to my passion for sports.

At school, I would describe myself as the nerdy kid who never quite fit in. I spent the time when I wasn’t working playing music, with a tight schedule of ensembles, lessons and practice leaving little room in my life for much else. I dabbled with some sport in this time, mainly running, but I was never a sporty kid.

Then I went to university and that all changed. Turning up to the university orchestra auditions hungover and, let’s be honest, just not quite good enough, I failed to make the cut. And so I looked for another thing to consume my time entirely. And what did I find, rowing.

Fast forward through three years of questionable training and even more questionable ‘recovery’ choices and I somehow found myself in the university lightweight rowing squad. It was here that I was first introduced to the wider world of sport. We were incredibly lucky to have our own physiologist, psychologist, nutritionist, physiotherapist and sports massage people.

So I battled through the last year of my Physics degree alongside this new world of training and came out of it with a Blue, a 2:1 and more resilience and determination than I ever thought possible of myself. But I also came out of my time at Oxford with no clue what to do next, and only now, nearly five months down the line am I working it out.

I would just like to finish by saying I am, despite what my friends may jokingly say, more than just a rower, or just a physicist. I am also a food lover, a dog enthusiast, a friend, a daughter and a bit of a weirdo.