Rowing success stories

Daisy Butterworth

“My rowing club did nothing but challenge me, support me and make me into a better rower”

Daisy rowed for England as a junior, winning two gold medals at the Home International regatta and raced for GB in the World Junior Rowing Championships in 2018. On her gap year she enrolled on a Sport Lived rowing programme in Melbourne. Daisy is currently studying at Southern Methodist University in Texas where she rows for the SMU Varsity 8 which was named American Athletic Conference Women’s Rowing Boat of the Year 2021, as voted by the league’s head coaches.

Will Kalikman

“My time in Melbourne was great for my development as an athlete and as an individual.”

As a junior, Will enjoyed a successful career rowing at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, and Oakland Strokes, in his home state of California. His Oakland Strokes 8 finished 3rd in the U19 category at the US National Championships. He took part in a rowing gap year with Sport Lived in Melbourne, before enrolling as a student-athlete at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, where he is a member of the Men’s Heavyweight Rowing team and has medalled in both the Eastern Sprints championship and the IRA national championship.

Hugo van de Graaf

“My time rowing in Australia was incredible and truly helped shape the person I am today!”

After rowing for Switzerland in both European and World Championships as a junior, Hugo took a gap year to row in Australia with Sport Lived in preparation for studying and rowing at UC Berkeley in California. After graduating with a degree in Data Science, Hugo now lives in London and works as a Graduate Actuarial Analyst at Gallagher Re.

George Nash

“It was an amazing few months and I’d thoroughly recommended Sport Lived to anyone who loves sport”

George took part in a Sport Lived rowing programme in Melbourne before studying mechanical engineering at Cambridge University, where he was part of the victorious Cambridge crew in the 2010 Boat Race. He rowed for Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the men's pair with Will Satch. After three successive World Championship golds, George then represented Great Britain in the 2016 Olympics, winning a gold medal with the men's coxless four. Now retired from professional rowing, George works as a technical director for engineering company Kinetrol.

Milivoj Vagic

“Spending 6 months in Australia, coaching rowing and living with fellow athletes was incredible.”

As a junior GB international rower & Captain of Latymer Upper School Boat Club, Milivoj wanted to pursue his sport during his gap year. He enrolled in a Sport Lived rowing programme in Melbourne and also coached rowing at a local high school during his stay. Milivoj went on to study and row at UC Berkeley, winning 6 silver medals & competing in National Championships every year during his degree. Since graduating Milivoj has worked in cyber security in London and also volunteered with a foundation in India.