LONDON — University of Iowa graduate Eve Stewart (‘20) qualified for the Great Britain Rowing Team this month, becoming the first Hawkeye rower to compete at the Olympics. Stewart advanced through a rigorous, five-month selection process.
“To make it through selection, competing against some really amazing athletes, is a dream come true,” said Stewart. “I have dreamt of making it to the Olympics since I can remember.”
At Iowa, Stewart helped Iowa qualify for three straight NCAA Championships. Stewart and the I Varsity Eight placed ninth overall at the 2019 NCAA Championships, setting the program’s highest NCAA finish in any boat.
Stewart’s experience in Iowa City helped lay the foundation for her Olympic journey.
“Being at a Division I school creates special opportunities in terms of facilities and other resources,” said Stewart. “Learning to work with 60 other women was a really valuable experience and really fun. You learn what a successful team can look like and how you can build off of one another.”
Olympic rowing events take place July 27 through Aug. 3. Stewart says the final leg of training is not about increasing workload, but perfecting execution. She will again lean on her experience at Iowa to finish strong.
“Being a student-athlete, having to do savage training and also manage your time, taught me a lot about what it means to really work at something,” said Stewart. “Make the right decisions and learn what it takes. My experience on the national team is not unlike my experience at Iowa. The approach is very much the same.”
Stewart, who was born and raised in the Netherlands, competes as a British athlete. Stewart most recently won a silver medal at the 2024 European Rowing Championships in the coxed eight event. Previously, she represented the Netherlands at the 2018 and 2019 World Rowing U23 Championships, as well as the 2020 European Rowing U23 Championships.
The Olympics will be a new challenge and adventure.
“It is quite hard to find a balance between the excitement of taking in the Olympic experience, as well as not getting too swept up in it,” said Stewart. “Once we get to Paris, the rings will be everywhere, and it will definitely have a certain feel about it. We are also there to do a job, to try to win a gold medal. You still have to enjoy the experience. In 60 days, it will all be over. Have your eyes open.”
Individual Hawkeye athletes actively compete for national teams in other settings. In addition to Stewart’s exploits for the British and Dutch teams, Iowa has had five women invited to U.S. Rowing Under-23 selection since 2018, with Hunter Koenigsfeld winning a bronze medal at the World Rowing U23 Championships in 2019.
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Photo credit to Jean Michel for the cover and Benedict Tufnell for gallery.
