Freya Keto

Nationality

USA/GB

Height

1.8m

School/High School

Walt Whitman High School

Club

CUBC

Undergraduate/Graduate

Graduate

Previous University

Brown University

Undergraduate course

History

Graduate course

African Studies

What is your Cambridge College?

St. Edmund’s

Why are you studying your course?

To improve my understanding of the long-standing impacts of European colonialism.

Year you first started rowing?

2015

First rowing club?

Thompson Boat Club

Why/How did you get into rowing?

It required no experience, and I was looking to try something new.

Name of first rowing coach?

Rachel Gabbay

Who is your rowing idol?

Damir Martin

How do you balance rowing and academic life?

I balance rowing and academics through careful planning, meal preparation, and a diligent sleep schedule.

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

My dream eight would be full of my teammates from the Brown women’s crew class of 2022.

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

Henley Royal Regatta 2021 and Henley Women’s Regatta 2022 finalist in women’s champ quads, silver medal in 2v8 at Ivy League championships 2022, tied team points winner at Ivy League championships 2022.

Have you raced in the Boat Race before?

No

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

No

Your favourite race so far?

Racing Cal Berkeley in the quad at Henley Women’s.

What is the best place you have ever rowed?

Seekonk River, Providence

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

The continued belief that I can still improve and want to contribute to the group around me.

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

Meeting a wonderful array of committed and unique individuals. My closest friends have been made through the sport.

What has been your most embarrassing/funny rowing moment?

Falling on my back after trying to do a hang clean in front of the team.

What is your favourite sports quote?

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”

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

Working with other people (and equipment) to make your boat go the fastest.

What is your favourite movie about sports? Why?

Whiplash for the parallels to sport through its depiction of extreme dedication.

How does being an athlete make you a better person?

Sport teaches you resilience and to get back up when it seems all hope is lost. It takes discipline and faith to keep pushing on the difficult days which is necessary in life outside of sport.

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

I think people can relate to committing to something even when it seems like the odds aren’t in your favour. I feel I have had lots of setbacks and disappointments, but I am still rowing because it is what I want to do.

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

I think a strength of mine is to make light of things. Rowing is a hard sport so it’s important to laugh. Humour brings people together.

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

Many of my best friends were or still are athletes so they definitely understand having to miss out on activities.