In this instalment of our Women in Sport series, we hear from Aoife Casey on her sporting inspirations, biggest goals, and proudest achievements.
Aoife Casey is a 25-year-old two-time Olympian who finished fifth in the Women’s Lightweight Double at the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer, alongside her partner Mags Cremen. The Skibbereen native has been rowing since the age of 10 and has just begun her studies in Bioscience Innovation and Enterprise at University College London.
Here, she shares her sporting story so far…
Profession: Full-time athlete turned masters student!
Earliest sporting memory?
Running around the rowing club with my sister!
How did you become involved in your sport?
My parents met whilst rowing and since then it has been a family affair! All my siblings row, so we are super competitive with each other and on top of that, my dad is my coach on the national rowing team.
What message would you like to share with young women and girls interested in pursuing a career as an athlete?
Try out lots of different sports! Once you find the sport you enjoy the most, focus on doing your best, believing in yourself and enjoying the process.
Proudest moment so far…
Winning a bronze medal at the World Rowing Championships in 2022. It was my first senior medal on a world stage and instilled in me confidence, belief and motivation for the upcoming Olympic cycle! The bonus was sharing the entire journey with my best friend and rowing partner Mags!
The female athlete I admire most is…
My mom has always been my biggest inspiration. She has always loved sport: cycling, running, swimming, rowing — you name it! Her love of sport has imprinted on me and she has taught me not to put too much pressure on myself, and that consistency is key, whether in rowing or study.
Favourite sporting memory…
Watching the lightweight men’s double, Fintan and Paul win gold in Tokyo! I was in an almost empty grandstand (due to Covid) with my dad and partner Mags. At this point, we had spent the last 12 months living in each other’s pockets, training every day as a team, so to see the lads achieve their dreams was so special. It was a nerve-wracking race, and super emotional, but we ended up on cloud nine after they crossed the finish line first!
Do you think there is still a stigma around women in sport?
I’m lucky that rowing is a very gender-equal sport; every athlete is treated the same and we’re all encouraged to be the best versions of ourselves. There were more female rowers than male on the Irish Olympic team this summer, so I think that’s a good sign!
What is the biggest barrier to driving visibility in women’s sports?
I think the more media coverage of women’s sports, the better! Often male sports dominate media coverage, making female role models for young girls more or less invisible. More media coverage showcasing female athletes and their achievements would have a snowball effect, improving funding and support of women in sport, driving more understanding, and creating a bigger following.
The biggest stigma/misconception that exists in women’s sport is…
“Women are weaker than men.” Yes, in pure muscle mass, but in every other aspect no! When you spend every day in a high-performance gym with the ‘Big Strong Girls’ of the Irish Rowing team, you quickly realise how strong women are!
If I wasn’t an athlete I would be…
A coach! There’s a sport out there for everybody, so I hope I can encourage both men and women to find their passion.
My favourite pre-competition meal is…
A banana, some bread and jam — simple carbohydrates to fuel my muscles.
My pre-competition playlist includes…
‘Qui A Le Droit’ by Patrick Bruel.
My daily routine is…
Training morning and evening, fuelled by nutritious meals and good coffee! Downtime in the evening is usually watching a movie or a walk with my friends.
My biggest sporting goal is…
An Olympic medal! Placing fifth at the Olympics in Paris this summer was both disappointing and motivating — being so close but so far from a medal!
Sports brands I love (Irish or otherwise)…
Queen B Athletics: the best sports bra in the game! Plus, I live in their squat-proof leggings during the winter.
Biggest splurge to celebrate a win…
Sushi, pizza, burgers! A good wholesome meal surrounded by family and friends!
How do you mind your mental health?
Sometimes my brain is wired to go straight to the negatives of a situation. It’s hard work, but I try to always find a positive thought to squash a negative one because positive thinking benefits the whole body. Mindfulness and meditation are super useful to me, and I try to take 5-10 minutes to relax every day with an app called Smiling Mind.
My three desert island beauty products are:
Moroccanoil Hair Oil, SPF50 and a good lip balm.
I need 8 hours of sleep a night because…
How else is my body supposed to recover, repair and become stronger?!
Confidence, to me, is…
Feeling good in my own skin. Comparison kills, so as a female athlete I focus on how capable I am inside and outside of the boat, accepting my strengths and flaws!
How do you get over a bad performance?
I think it’s important to separate the result from you as a person. Analyse the race, identify things to improve on as well as things you did well. Feel the disappointing emotions, but as long as you did your best, move on and work towards your next goal.
Lastly, why is sport such an integral part of the community, on a club, local, national and personal level?
Sport, to me, is everything and more! In every sport across the country, people make friends, enjoy time exercising, and share in the post-exercise endorphins.
Also Read
