“My most memorable achievement is definitely winning a bronze medal in Chengdu last year”

It’s been a year of constant growth, learning and new experiences for FISU World University Games lightweight double bronze medallist Nadia Gaspari, who continues to take great strides forward in her budding rowing career.

Taking up the sport after attending an open day while in primary school, the South African continued rowing through high school and then through to university, admittedly following her friends to the University of Pretoria as “that’s where my friends were going and I wanted to row with them!”.

Two years ago, the now 24-year-old met Chloe Cresswell, attending a national rowing camp together as the pair formed a strong connection both on and off the water.

“Chloe and I have a great relationship, in and out the boat,” Nadia Gaspari (left) tells krikyalive.com. “We first rowed alongside the national squad in our double, which is where we gained a lot of knowledge and experience together. The national squad environment helped us grow a lot and gain so much speed.”

The pair were then selected to represent South Africa at last year’s FISU World University Games in Chengdu, grabbing the third step on the podium in what was Nadia’s most exhilarating experience in a boat.

“My greatest and most memorable achievement so far is definitely winning a bronze medal in the lightweight double in Chengdu last year,” she says. “It was a very special moment for Chloe and I, and I will always remember that feeling.”

Facing challenges

The duo was then once again selected into the South African team that took part in the Rotterdam 2024 FISU World University Championship Rowing, yet were unable to build on their FISU Games success. Sickness in the build-up to the event, a late change of boat and challenging conditions saw Nadia and Chloe finish a disappointing fourth in their final, yet Chloe was still able to take positives out of the event, enjoying the atmosphere and the venue.

“Rotterdam is a beautiful city,” she says. “The venue was in the middle of an open field with lots of wind turbines and windmills around which was beautiful. It is always interesting to interact with rowers from other countries and hear what training and racing is like for them back home, and it was nice to see a few of the same people from last year’s regatta in China.”

There was no rest for Nadia after Rotterdam however, as she immediately began her training programme for another international stage to showcase her talent: the 2024 World Rowing Championships in Ontario, Canada. The pair finished second of the lightweight women’s single sculls C final.

Back to the books

Thereafter it was back to the books, with the Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting student focusing on her academics – for now.

“I am still not entirely sure if I want to be an accountant, so I will have to explore my options in future, but I will definitely continue to row, even if it’s just socially and on weekends! I will always love rowing and never want to stop entirely.”

Written by Fabio De Dominicis, pictures courtesy of Nadia Gaspari