30: Harnessing the power of self-belief: How Victoria Evans became the fastest female to solo row the Atlantic

The Women in Sport Podcast

In March 2022 Victoria Evans became the fastest woman to solo row the Atlantic Ocean. An incredible achievement in itself, but one made even more remarkable by the fact that three years prior to setting sail, Victoria had never even been in a rowing boat.
Setting off from the island of Tenerife, Spain on 11 February she battled through a number of difficult moments before arriving at Port St Charles in Barbados in the early hours of 24 March. Inclement weather, sleep deprivation and even a solitary 35th birthday party for one were not enough to hold her back. Her 7-metre boat ‘True Blue’ was all that protected her from waves the height of houses, dark nights, storms, sweltering heat, and 3 miles of ocean underneath her.

In total, Victoria rowed 2,559 nautical miles (4,740 kilometres) in a world record time of 40 days and 19 hours, beating the previous record of 49 days and 7 hours set by fellow UK rower Kiko Matthews back in March 2018.

Victoria also raised £25,000 for Women in Sport as part of her Sea Change Sport campaign, which was set up to draw attention to gender inequality in sport, in particular the barriers that prevent access to sport for women and girls.

In this podcast Tori shares how she prepared both physically and mentally for the challenge, the highs and lows, what life aboard a 7-metre boat is like - including going to the loo, eating and the lack of sleep - and how she is now using her World Record to create a platform for change and to inspire women and girls that they have the power to achieve within.

Donate to Tori's fundraising campaign:
Fundraiser by Victoria Evans : Sea Change Sport Atlantic Row for Women in Sport (gofundme.com)
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This episode is sponsored by CSM LIVE
Podcast artwork: Jane Stockdale