The 2025 U23 world rowing championships just wrapped up in Poland. The top young talent in the world of rowing showed up with thrilling races and surprising finishes, with the South African rowers leaving their mark on the world champs. Chloe Cresswell led the charge in the lightweight women’s single sculls, and her technical precision and fight, meant she walked away with a silver medal.

We celebrate the win together on the podcast, as Chloe joins me to talk about the race, the German fighting in the last row and the fire she needed to carry to get across the line. Exhausted, she didn’t know she had won the silver until she looked up at the board. Reflecting on her journey into rowing, she shares with us her objectives at the world champs and how winning wasn’t the key goal. As rowing continues to grow in popularity with the public, we share about the incredible community spirit in the sport, and the public interest that is growing prolifically.

I also quiz Chloe on the most googled questions around the sport of rowing, including the inquisitive question of why is rowing so posh? Her knowledge of the sport and its history is impressive as she answers the worlds questions about the sport. What is in store for Chloe Cresswell and her future in the sport? How does she feel after her silver medal win? Join us for this celebratory conversation.

The post “Why Rowing Isn’t Just for the Posh” — Chloe Cresswell first appeared on She Speaks Sport.

The countdown is on! This July, 38 teams from around the globe will lace up their skates and head to Austria for the highly anticipated Roller Derby World Cup. With a history spanning over 90 years, roller derby has made its way around the world and is a sport that empowers women and breaks down patriarchal barriers. Joining me on the podcast this week, is Zelri van der Schyff, who will be representing Team South Africa along with her team mates at the world cup. Zelri is also a coach and part of the management for the Cape Town Roller Girls.

We dive into what it takes to get to the roller derby World Cup, the top teams to watch, and the incredible journey of the South African team. Zelri breaks down how roller derby actually works (yes, we answer the “is there a ball?” question), what the penalty box is really like, and why this full-contact sport is making waves for body positivity and inclusivity — no matter your age. Zelri also shares with us some of the misconceptions and remarks made about roller derby, that are belittling to the power of the game. Is there a ball involved in roller derby? How long does the game last? And am I too old to play? We answer these questions and more on this episode. 

Whether you’re a die-hard derby fan or a curious newcomer, this episode brings the hype, the heart, and the hard hits. Let’s roll!

The post Zelri V.D Schyff – Rolling into the Roller Derby World Cup first appeared on She Speaks Sport.

Having begun her sporting journey as a paraswimmer, Charlotte Henshaw represented Great Britain for over a decade across three Paralympic Games, bagging silver and bronze medals for swimming. Until she found her way into paracanoe and won the paracanoe world championship ten times. Winning gold at Tokyo 2020, was followed by Charlottes incredible double gold win at Paris 2024 where she competed in the inaugural VL3 event (watch here). For her services to canoeing she was awarded an MB in the 2021 New Years Honours List.

In this episode, Charlotte and I dive deep into her incredible journey to Paris, where she made history by winning double gold at the World Championships and then repeating that triumph at the Paris Games. But this wasn't just about victory—it was about the whispered dreams of an athlete, the intense pressure of competition, and the courage it took to break barriers as a woman and as the first-ever double gold para athlete in canoeing. We explore the highs, and the profound sense of grief that accompanies standing on the podium, only to return home 24 hours later to face the post-Paris blues—a reality many athletes know all too well.

Charlotte's mantra for Paris was simple yet powerful: “Be Courageous.” We unpack how this mindset, shaped by her partnership with a new sports psychologist just 10 weeks before Pairs, helped her navigate pressure, and inner fear. Her journey holds invaluable lessons for all of us, offering practical tools to confront our own challenges and fears.

But Charlotte’s story doesn’t end there. She opens up about her personal battle with endometriosis—a condition affecting millions of women worldwide—and the eight long years it took to receive her diagnosis.

The post Charlotte Henshaw – Paracanoe’s Gold Champion first appeared on She Speaks Sport.

Kate Christowitz is a retired Olympic rower with a passion for building equity in rowing, for women. As the chair of the athletes Commission for RowSA, Kate is also a dedicated coach who loves sharing her knowledge for rowing with young athletes. She is also the director of rowing at St. Stithians College where she maintains and develops the rowing fleet.

In this episode, Kate shares her journey from discovering rowing as a young girl at St Mary’s to becoming an Olympian, highlighting the transformative power of sport and community. We dive into the Women in Rowing initiative, a movement uniting women across South Africa to tackle key issues in the sport and celebrate their shared passion. From the first event in Joburg, to exciting plans for provincial gatherings, we discuss how this vibrant community is growing and making waves. Discover the camaraderie, resilience, and connection that define rowing, as Kate shares stories from her career and her work with young athletes, and the joy we felt at seeing Paige compete in the 2024 Olympics.

Whether you’re a seasoned rower, a coach, a supporter, or just curious about the sport, Kate Christowitz also provides all the details on how to join and become a part of this growing community for women in rowing.

The post Kate Christowitz – Building Community in Women’s Rowing first appeared on She Speaks Sport.

This year Red Bull King of the Air has created its first ever Women’s Division in this premier kitesurfing competition which always features the best athletes from around the world. We will get to witness a unique showcase of female talent and athleticism in this historic event that is sure to be a game changer for women’s big air. Joining me to talk about the upcoming competition and her journey as one of the participants is Jasmine Cho. Born in Korea, raised in the U.S and now considering Blouberg as her home base, Jasmine has been a big air kitesurfer for a number of years, with prestigious events behind her name. 

On the podcast we talk about her journey from being a film director in New York City, to fully dedicating herself and her time, to the sport of kitesurfing. Having applied for King of the Air three times in the past, Jasmine Cho always believed in the need for women’s inclusion in Big Air and with this year’s competition, she talks about the meaning of this inclusion for women, and the effect this will have on other competitions. We talk about her recent crash in Brazil, and dealing with the process of the fear factor following her fall, and how she is embracing this as part of the journey. We unpack the wind factor in Cape Town and how she is acclimatising to the denser wind conditions that Cape Town offers. Among the female competitors, Jasmine lets us in on the support for one another and the unique sisterhood and friendships that have formed through competition, and how being on the big air circuit has created a unique energy among the women.

The post Jasmine Cho – Queen of the Air first appeared on She Speaks Sport.

This week it’s ice hockey week on She Speaks Sport ahead of the South African women’s tour to Turkey. My Guest Elaine Moller has been playing ice hockey for over 10 years and has proudly represented South Africa internationally for 5 years. She is part of the senior women’s team representing our country at the World Championships rom April 1st to April 7th.

The post Face Off with Ice Hockey Player Elaine Moller first appeared on She Speaks Sport.

Laryne Jefferies began her competitive lifting career in 2020 and now holds the South African records for Female 71kg class for snatch 88kg, clean and jerk 112kg and total 200kg. She is the African Senior Championship 2022 Bronze winner, and the African Cup 2022 Silver medallist. She is ranked 5th in the 71kg female category in African continent and is currently the South African strongest female weightlifter overall. 

On the show, we break down all you need to know about the different categories of lifting, as well as Laryne’s journey in lifting. As someone who did not grow up doing sport, Laryne’s entry into lifting is inspiring and empowering for all who hear her story. Currently, she is raising the much-needed funding to compete in Thailand and ultimately to qualify for the Olympics in Paris later this year. Outside of lifting, Laryne is a fashion designer creating bespoke wedding gowns, and couture dresses, showing us that women can be both strong, and beautiful. Tune in to hear how each of us can make a difference in Laryne’s Thailand dream.

The post Laryne Jefferies – SA Weightlifting Champ first appeared on She Speaks Sport.

Katherine Williams is a member of the RMB National Rowing team. Having claimed a bronze medal in the U23 World Championships in the single scull, she is currently part of the women’s heavyweight double with fellow rower, Paige Badenhorst. 

Kat joins me to talk about how she fell in love with rowing, the excitement and twist in the bronze medal achievement, and how the new pairing with Paige was meant to be. We also talk about representing women in the national team, money in the sport, and the structure of training alongside male rowers and how this can be a positive reality.

The post Katherine Williams – Rowing for South Africa first appeared on She Speaks Sport.