Emma Hewlett

Club OUWBC

Year of Birth 2000

Hometown Reading

Nationality Dutch/British

College Trinity

Undergrad/Graduate Undergraduate

Year 3rd

What are you studying? Classics

What is the most interesting part of your course? Do you have any professional or academic plans after? I love learning about ancient Greek literature - the fact that the plays and texts we read can still be so relevant, topical and touching millennia after they were first written is incredible to me.

Future ambitions? I want to work in a field related to creative communications - I love talking to people and finding an interesting way to put new information across.

How do you balance rowing and academic life? Time management is crucial - whether this means bringing a laptop on the minibus and doing some Latin vocab on the way to training, or getting creative about where to find a place to perch in town to do work between sessions.

When did you start rowing, and why? I started rowing in my first year at university - my parents both rowed when they were at school and university but I didn’t catch the rowing bug until I started my degree. I figured college-level rowing would be the perfect introduction to a sport I had grown up watching and enjoying, and I haven’t looked back since.

What was your first club? Trinity College Boat Club, Oxford What is your favourite part of rowing for Oxford? Rowing for Oxford is surreal to me - I have been watching the Boat Race on television for as long as I can remember and I have looked up to the girls in the squad in previous years, and this year as well. Before the start of the season, I didn’t think that I would have it in me to do what they did - but I am so glad to have given it a go and I am enjoying every second of every session.

What’s your rowing history, and what has been your biggest achievement so far? My favourite achievement in rowing was winning blades in Summer Eights 2019 - a bumps race held in Oxford.

Have you raced in the Boat Race before? No.

Your favourite race so far? Summer Eights. The college atmosphere is fantastic and the support from friends on the bank is also lovely to experience.

Do you have any race day habits or superstitions? My crew and I often do positive visualisations of the race to come. I find it helps us get in the right frame of mind to push ourselves and do our training justice.

Your sporting idol? I have looked up to Pete Reed ever since I saw him win gold at the 2014 World Championships in Rotterdam. His attitude and advice, which he often shares on his social media, always help me to remember to push on and keep going.

If you could have any sportsperson in your crew, who would it be? Constantine Louloudis. As a fellow classicist I feel we’d have a lot to talk about!

What gets you through a tough session? Do you have a mantra, rituals? I remind myself that every rep, every stroke is one step closer to beating Cambridge - when the going gets tough, it helps me to keep that in mind.

Any hobbies, other interests outside rowing? I love finding new creative outlets - I picked up embroidery over lock-down and have really enjoyed that.

How do you motivate yourself and your teammates, especially with Cov-id restrictions? While training during Covid lockdown, staying in touch with team mates has been crucial - even if it is over Zoom. While doing an erg in your uni bedroom is tough, it is heartening to know that all the girls are doing the same and everyone is right there with you.