Ruby Tew

Nationality

NZL

Height

181cm

School/high school/secondary school

Queen Margaret College

Club

CUBC

Undergraduate/graduate

Graduate

Previous university

Massey University

Undergraduate course

Bachelor of Business Studies -Finance and Accounting

Graduate course

Master of Business Administration

Cambridge college

Queens’

Why are you studying your course?

To gain a broad business and management knowledge base before continuing my career.

What is the most interesting part of your course?

The diverse range of people I work with every day.

Year you first started rowing

2008

First rowing club

Star Boating Club

Why/how did you get into rowing?

To make friends at a new high school.

Name of first rowing coach?

Roy Pickard

Who is your rowing idol?

Grace Prendergast

Who would be your dream team eight to row with from everyone in the history of rowing?

The NZ women’s eight. The way they operate as a team, train relentlessly and manage to make eights rowing look smooth and beautiful is always something that I will aspire to take into my own crews.

How do you balance rowing and academic life?

By ensuring that I have a clear plan for the week ahead.

What is your rowing history, and what has been your biggest achievement so far?

I first represented New Zealand at the 2012 junior worlds in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, picking up a bronze medal in the junior women’s quad. In 2015 I was selected for the elite women’s eight. The boat made history by becoming the first New Zealand women’s eight to qualify for an Olympic Games and won silver at the world championships. Our eight placed 4th at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and won a string of world cup medals. In 2017 I won at Henley Royal Regatta and won bronze at the 2017 world championships. In 2018 I moved from the eight to the women’s four, which finished the 2018 season with a 9th place overall at the world champs in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics I competed in the coxless quad sculls and placed second in the B final.

Have you raced in the Boat Race before? If yes, when?

No

Have you ever been at school/university/on a team with anyone at ‘the other place’?

No

Your favourite race so far?

World championships women’s eights final 2015, Aiguebelette, France. We placed second and qualified for the Rio Olympics.

What is the best place you have ever rowed?

Lake Bohinj, Slovenia

Where would be your dream place to row?

Lake Bohinj, Slovenia

Obviously, there are long hours and hard work, what inspires you to keep rowing?

The hard work and long hours are rewarding once you get to your pinnacle event and race a race with your crew that you know is the result of leaving no stone unturned and doing everything you possibly could have done to put that performance on the table -regardless of the result.

What do you feel is your greatest achievement through rowing, be it accolades or something more personal?

During my time rowing for NZ, myself and Lucy Spoors (from the NZ women’s eight) started a catering company for sports teams in the Waikato region of NZ; from this we have been able to share our experiences and connect with young NZ athletes. This has been immensely satisfying and I really hope that we have been able to make a difference to the journey of some of NZ’s up and coming talent by sharing advice that we wish we had heard when we were just beginning our rowing journeys.

What has been your most embarrassing/funny rowing moment?

Capsizing -three times in a row in the Wellington harbour from the wash of a passing ferry. Completely embarrassing as a novice rower!

What is your favourite sports quote?

Not a sports quote -but some words to live by. Always be kind.

How would you describe the sport to a non-rower?

Lots of training, going backwards, use your legs not your arms. Not the same as kayaking.

What is your favourite movie about sports? Why?

The Blind Side -it is all about the power of sport to change lives, which I think is absolutely true.

How does being an athlete make you a better person?

Being an athlete means you constantly push yourself to your limits and you see other people doing the same. I am constantly inspired by how amazing the people training around me are which makes me want to be a better person and a better leader/example to those who might look at me in the same way.

Why do you think someone outside the sport can relate to your career as an athlete?

I think sport teaches a lot of lessons that are transferable into the workplace. Even though my career has included two Olympics it is no different from someone starting off in a graduate role in a company and working their butt off to progress through an organisation. Growth is about continuously learning and pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zones which is applicable in all areas of life.

What are your strengths, as a person and as an athlete?

I think my strengths as an athlete lie in being able to unite a team and get everybody on the same page. The entire crew needs to feel valued and heard, which is often not the case in rowing.

What do your friends think of your athletic success? How do you handle missing out on activities with friends because of your athletic schedule?

I think my friends are all extremely proud of me. Every time I move to a new school/university/workplace I always find myself gravitating towards rowers. I find that they are generally always hardworking, grounded, and genuine people, which means that most of my friends have been rowers (or at least sportspeople) at some point in their lives and thus understand the sacrifice and understand the ‘why’ of the sacrifice which is possibly more important.

Do you think you can win the Boat Race? Why?

Absolutely. I think we have a fantastic group of athletes trialling this year, a fantastic coaching and support team and all the necessary elements for a fantastic season. Lots of hard work still to come but I have total faith in this year’s CUBC team.

Any hobbies, other interests outside rowing?

I love to cook, read, travel and eat chocolate.