Carina Graf

Nationality

GER

Height

1.78m

School/High School

Ev. Heidehofgymnasium

Club

CUBC

Undergraduate/Graduate

Graduate

Previous University

University of British Columbia, Vancouver

Undergraduate course

Medical Physics

Graduate course

Clinical Neuroscience

What is your Cambridge College?

Emmanuel

Why are you studying your course?

Developing novel techniques for neuroscience research allows me to transfer my physical science training into the medical community.

Year you first started rowing?

2018

First rowing club?

University of British Columbia

Why/How did you get into rowing?

A close friend of mine suggested I try rowing to improve my mental health and work-life balance. I was hooked after one session.

Name of first rowing coach?

Zoe Fettig-Win

How do you balance rowing and academic life?

A very organized schedule.

Who is your rowing idol?

Andrea Proske

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

I noviced at UBC in 2018/19. After a yearlong break, I continued with rowing as soon as I joined Cambridge University and started trialling in 2021. My biggest achievement so far has been winning the BUCS Int 4+ in 2022. In a very competitive field of over 50 boats, we strategically made it through the semis and took the win in the final, after narrowly missing out on a medal the previous day in the Int 8+.

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

Yes, Blondie 2022.

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

No

Your favourite race so far?

HWR2022. What a friendly regatta.

What is the best place you have ever rowed?

The Fraser River, Richmond, BC.

Where would be your dream place to row?

Lake Lucerne

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

Feeling like I truly completed something.

What has been your most embarrassing/funny rowing moment?

Being asked to back it down individually to the stake boats, instead of as a crew.

What is your favourite sports quote?

“Winning is an all the time thing. Not a sometimes thing.”

Obviously, it’s long hours and hard work – what inspires you to keep rowing?

It keeps me healthy, both physically and mentally and provides an outlet to PhD life.

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

How to use your body in the best way to make a boat go zoom, zoom.

What is your favourite movie about sports? Why?

Free Solo. I love climbing, and it highlights what impact psychological training has on sports performance.

How does being an athlete make you a better person?

I am more present when meeting friends and family. Because time is very limited on our training schedule, I try to make the most of every minute I have with the people that are most important to me.

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

I started late with rowing (24), but with hard work and determination you can still become an athlete at this stage in life.

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

I like to actively listen. This is true both for my personal life and as an athlete. In the boat it means really listening to the hull, slides and blades. It can tell you a lot about what might be going on.

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

Most of my friends at this point are rowers, too. So they understand and are hugely supportive, because everyone knows how big a deal it is to get to row for Cambridge.