Congratulations to third year Economics student, Vwairé Obukohwo, who grabbed the gold at the 2022 BUCS Rowing Championship recently. We caught up with Vwairé, to ask how it felt to win the gold and how she balances her time between training and her studies. Read the full interview below.
1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Hi, I’m Vwairé Obukohwo and I’m a rower on the Royal Holloway Scholarship programme. I’ve just won a gold medal in the 2021-22 BUCS Rowing Regatta.
2. When did you first start rowing?
I started in Sixth Form. It helped me because - on a more personal level - before [then] I was very out of shape and I didn’t know how to take care of myself. Not one single clue about nutrition and it was a very new realm for me. It was good and gave me the basic foundations of how to look after myself.
3. What is your biggest ambition?
Competing in the Olympics one day.
4. How do you find balancing competition and education?
Ultimately I have this idea that ‘it’s got to be done’ and there’s no other option, which works well for me because once things are completed, I know they’re done and I’m onto the next thing.
When it comes to academic work, I’m not the most motivated either but I know ‘it’s got to be done’. I’ve been given this opportunity to get a degree, at a great university like Royal Holloway so who am I to take this for granted?
The university is so supportive… and I can’t imagine having that experience with any other university. It’s been such an incredible experience these past three years. Over lockdown, the whole of Royal Holloway Sport helped me so much with exercises and just checking in on me. It’s a great support system.
5. What have you learned while studying at Royal Holloway?
Going to university has taught me so much. It’s taught me how to balance my time better, how to prioritise things. And with sport, it’s made me think about being a better leader, working well in a team - you do that day-to-day with projects at university, so I’m quite grateful for the opportunity to get a degree alongside doing something I love.
6. How well supported have you felt by the Sports Scholarship programme?
I was shocked when I saw how much the scholarship programme had to offer! Royal Holloway offers it [the programme] to people with a range of abilities and a range of aspirations. Everyone on the scholarship programme has different outcome goals and it’s nice to have a mix of people.
Especially during lockdown the programme was really helpful, because I had access to the physio, sports massages and I had the Strength and Conditioning coach checking in with me all the time. The coach literally taught me how to jump, how to squat, everything.
I feel like before I started on the scholarship programme, I just had a body, but they gave me the building blocks to become the athlete I am today. Working with [the S&C Coach], they gave me so much confidence and allowed me to see the potential I have, even beyond being an athlete.
7. Gold in BUCS! How did it feel to cross that finishing line representing Royal Holloway?
I still can’t believe it! I’m still trying to process everything. I just said to myself ‘Okay Vwairé , you just go and give it your best shot’. The fact that it took me to the line and finishing first, I can’t believe it. I feel like with most people it’s ‘okay, how am I going to get gold?’ whereas with me I thought ‘how am I not going to embarrass myself?’.
8. What have you got on the horizon?
Well I’ve got two more exams and then it’s a pretty hectic summer! It’s Regatta season and all the international stuff is becoming more accessible so hopefully you’ll see me representing Great Britain on the international stage! I’ve signed to represent the university in the EUSA (European Universities Rowing Championship), in Turkey in September which will be really exciting. I’ve got some Under-23 competitions, Henley Royal, Henley Women’s. No days off!