24/09/2026
Recently I traveled with Adelaide University to coach two eights participating in the 2026 International Nanjing Universities Rowing Open, where we met and raced teams from England, the USA, New Zealand China and Australia.
While we selected crews, and trained hard for this event, the rowing was only a small part of the experience we had in Nanjing.
We had the opportunity to experience some Chinese culture, from visiting football games to taking a river cruise and exploring a part of the world that was very different from home.
One of the lovely things about international sport is the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures, and discover how much you have in common despite those differences. A shared love of rowing is a pretty good place to start!
For our athletes, it was an opportunity to experience something new, meet new people from across the international rowing community and see a little more of the world beyond our own clubs and programs.
Experiences like this are a great reminder of why I love rowing. It’s a sport that can take you to incredible places, introduce you to wonderful people and give you opportunities to learn. Both on and off the water.
At Ratio Theory Rowing, I want to help athletes get more out of their rowing. That means developing their technique, understanding their training and building the confidence to take on new challenges, wherever their rowing journey takes them.
A fantastic experience, some great memories and plenty of new connections made along the way.
Thanks to everyone who helped make the trip possible, and to the teams who made us feel so welcome.