On Aug. 3, Dartmouth varsity women’s rowing member Áine Ley ’26 was selected to join the U.S. Rowing Under 23 team after qualifying at the U.S. Rowing Under 23 Selection Camp in July. Ley will now represent the United States at the 2024 World Rowing Under 23 Championships, set to take place from Aug. 18 to 25 in St. Catherines, Ontario. Ley’s success at the camp — held in Hanover, N.H. from July 10 to July 31 — makes her the first Dartmouth women’s collegiate rower to compete at Worlds with the U23 team in more than a decade, according to Ley. The Dartmouth sat down with Ley to discuss her experience at the U23 camp, her qualification for the national team and her future with Dartmouth rowing.
Can you break down the qualification process for the U.S. team? What was your experience like?
AL: Everyone who wants to try out for the national team has to apply in order to be invited to the U23 camp. We each send in our 2000m ergometer — a rowing machine that simulates rowing without a boat — score, a video of us rowing and our physiological statistics. Then, the national team talks to the college coaches and makes an invite list of about 30 women over a three-week selection period. From there, they look at how everyone is rowing and where they are at, fitness-wise. They try to make the fastest boats possible based on the different combinations of rowers.
At the end of last fall, I wanted to try to go to camp this year. I wasn’t sure what the outcome would be. But I applied and found out that I was invited in mid-April. After that, my training was with the Dartmouth team in the spring, and my early summer training was geared toward doing well at camp.
What was it like training with the U23 team? What did you do during camp?
AL: It was a lot of learning to row together because different programs do small technical things differently. There was a lot of focus on. How can I row my best and match up with other people to make our boat go fastest? It’s also about figuring out if you’re able to sustain a challenging workout every day for weeks and still succeed.
How did it feel to have Dartmouth host the U23 camp this summer? Has it been challenging to manage classes and camp?
AL: It was awesome being here. I didn’t have to choose between going to camp and doing sophomore summer. Taking classes has been difficult to manage at times, but the overall opportunity has been great. It’s also nice to be in the environment where I’m used to training. It’s a slightly different experience, but Dartmouth is still a great place to train and row, especially with the Connecticut River.
I try to be strategic with my course load. I’m only taking two classes right now, which is helpful. Earlier on, I was rowing, doing my homework and then going to bed. It’s been a lot, but not dissimilar from being in varsity season. I’m used to planning and managing my time with travel and everything else. I’d say this is an extreme case, but nothing I haven’t been prepared for in the past. It’s been nice in some ways because it’s given me a lot more structure.
What does your qualification mean for the future? What does this accomplishment of making the national team mean to you?
AL: The turnaround to Worlds is pretty quick! Our first race at the World Championship is on Aug. 18. In the last few days of training, we’re trying to go from having a good base to having a good top speed. The focus for everyone competing right now is how much speed we can get from rowing together as well as possible and getting all of our boats finely tuned. I’m super excited for that.
The unique thing about applying for U19 or U23 is that people work all year to compete in the summer and then do it all over the next year. It’s cool because it gives people more opportunities to try out. It means a lot to me, especially because it’s been a long time since we’ve had a Dartmouth women’s rower on the U23 team. Molly Reckford ’15 is on the national team and currently competing at her second Olympics, which is awesome. But other than Molly, no other Dartmouth women are competing for the United States. I’m really happy about what it means for our program. Everyone on the team is excited.
What has been the most memorable moment in your journey as a collegiate rower? What do you look forward to in the future?
AL: I’ll remember the people the most. It’s been such an inspiring group of women to train with. Rowing is special because you’re competing against, with and for each other. It’s been really awesome to see how much fun everyone’s had with it and approached competition in a supportive and positive way.
I’m super excited about the future. I’m eligible for U23 for two more summers, so who really knows? It’s an unfortunate reality that rowers often have to choose to stop after college because there are no professional rowing opportunities. Even athletes on the senior national team work during the year while they’re training. But I’m excited about the prospect of rowing in the future. I’m also super excited for the future of Dartmouth women’s rowing. We have the potential to do some really awesome things these next couple of years.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
