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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.
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.
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.
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.