No Choice But Forward
Rowing’s unforgiving waters demand resilience and often a mould to fit. Vwairé Obukohwo isn’t just pushing through barriers but breaking societal constructs. As one of Team GB’s youngest and few Black female prospects, she proves that embracing our differences is key to driving progress.
By Ellë Bolland
Photography by Heiko Prigge
Bonding with a GB rower over the mispronunciation of our names isn’t how I expected to be spending a chilly Thursday afternoon – but seriously, there’s nothing that grinds my gears more than when someone makes no attempt to ask and pronounce someone’s name correctly. It’s why when we sit down on the weathered Chesterfield sofa, the first thing I ask is how to pronounce Vwairé. “It’s said as Veye–ray, honestly thank you for asking!”, the 23 year old from London, shares with a buoyancy in her voice.
We’re at a Glorious photo shoot in central London, brought together by our pals at Sweaty Betty, who set Glorious the challenge of finding athletes who aren’t just strong, but who are actively redefining power. Vwairé was one of the first women that came to mind. Yes, her muscle tone alone could make a grown man weep, but from every Glorious interaction we’ve had with her, it’s clear that power isn’t just something she possesses – it’s something she embodies. Physically, mentally, relentlessly. Resilient. Strong. Determined. Driven.
We hit it off in our shared pain for the mispronunciation of our names, and not only that, but also our experience of university rowing. There’s something about rowing that no matter which club or university you rowed for, you instantly have this mutuality – a shared appreciation for the discomfort and sacrifice you go through to pursue the sport. “It’s a bloody miserable sport a lot of the time isn’t it?” I say. “It genuinely is!” Vwairé laughs, because when your hands are taped up with duct tape – preventing them from ripping any more, bones frozen to their core, and you’re being shouted at for ‘just ten more strokes’ (which is exactly what the coach said for the previous ten), you really have to remind yourself of the why. It’s not always watching the sunrise over the Thames with a rosy glow on your cheeks – a lot (the majority) of the time you’re handed the unforgiving British weather, clutching the oar as your hand teases to slip off the handle from the heavy tideaway rain.
It takes a certain type of person to make it through this sport. The word that springs to my mind is stoic; rowers are fiercely practical in their approach to problems, because it helps them make decisions based on rationality and not emotion. It allows them to channel brute strength and power, establishing rhythm like a metronome as they row back and forth in the same motion – and if in a crew – moving as one to get to the finish line. It explains Vwairé’s mindset when she reflects on a conversation with one of her biggest fans, her father, “I was frustrated people weren’t making an effort to get my name right, until my Dad said to me, ‘Vwairé – there’s going to be a time when they aren’t going to have a choice but to say your name right!’. It really stuck with me, because when I get to the podium, they won’t be able to just say “this athlete” anymore. They will be saying, “Vwairé Obukohwo, this is your medal!”. The word that stuck out for me here is when.
Rising to the top isn’t even a question for Vwairé, it’s a matter of fact that she’ll get there. Listening to her speak I’m in utter awe, because she’s shedding light on the fact that there is almost no choice or decision to be made. It’s this deep conviction where she has tunnel vision – Vwairé has her goal, and the only answer is to get there. She has no excuses, no distractions. It’s like she’s blinkered to the noise which so many people get caught up in. “That’s the thing, I don’t know or care how I get there, but I’m bloody well getting it done!”, she says.
I want to find out what gives her this edge, the superpower you could perhaps call it (because I feel we could all benefit from a bit more stoicism in our lives). “With the community that I’m from, not only as a Nigerian but also as a black woman, we are constantly championing our people. I recently had a call with a random guy when I was trying to get a gym membership for a month. As soon as I said my name he was like ‘Wait, but your name is Vwairé – and you’re a GB rower? Go on girl!!’. The moment they know you’re on that path to success, you have literal strangers rooting for you. I feel like that’s my superpower!”.
superpower
Comparing the experience for her peers, of which are the stereotypical rower: tall, white, and usually from a privileged background, she sympathises that success is expected of them and more a right of passage. “For me, I have fought to get to where I am now. When you wear your skin colour, it’s so obvious that the obstacles can be a bit more confrontational. The fact I have literal strangers reminding me why I do what I do every single day, and why I take every individual stroke that I do, I think that is my superpower”.
What Vwairé has managed to do for the sport in just a matter of years is unspeakable. From the age of 16 she started rowing and was scouted for the GB Start Programme, she then broke an age-group record at the Indoor Rowing Championships, won at Henley Women’s just a few years later, then took bronze in the U23 World Championships. These milestones have led Vwairé to witness the positive changes she’s supporting for women like herself in just a few short years, and mentions this is what drives her to continue. “It adds fuel to my fire because I want to take up that space and invite so many more people into the sport from any background.
Can you imagine a world where the sport is fun for so many diverse individuals, with so many stories to tell?”. She emphasises that while her journey is meaningful, it’s only one perspective, and the more diverse the community becomes, the more creativity and ingenuity we are able to drive.
As we’re sharing more about our experiences of diversity, notably in the not-so-diverse world of rowing, Vwairé makes a really poignant point, “The biggest part of diversity that is underlooked is the difference in perspective. Sharing differences in the way you attack things and the way you hold yourself, can actually help you go further. Iron sharpens iron! I want to be challenged to be the best version of myself, and the only way we can do that is by driving diversity forward”. There’s something so beautiful in her words, not only emphasising our social responsibility to celebrate diversity and inclusion, but it also acts as a reminder of why we should hold ourselves accountable to be authentically ourselves.
Comparison often becomes the thief of joy, where we’re then trying so desperately to fit a mould, to cookie-cut ourselves into the shape of someone else or the being society tells us to be. Vwairé’s point emphasises that yes, we should acknowledge our differences, but in a way where it empowers us to embrace these and drive both personal, and wider progress. “Not only do I have a point to prove by breaking the mould, but I have so many other people looking up to me, and so many people I want to inspire. I call it my vision. I’m so confident and so secure in my vision, and it is so much greater than me that selfishly I’m just like I can’t stop now! It’s not an option – the only option is to put that blade in and go for it girl!” she shares with enthusiasm.
Is there anything Vwairé can’t do? It’s clear she’s pushing herself in all areas, but she’s also refreshingly honest about the challenges she faces. While her commitment to her team and accountability to others keeps her driven in a group setting, Vwairé recognises that self-motivation is something she’s actively working on. Real talk? She still finds it hard to get out of bed some mornings. Yes, Vwairé is the embodiment of power, but even the powerful have those days. The ones where the motivation just isn’t there, where the drive has to be forced. And yet, she does it. Because the bigger picture is always clearer in her mind.
“I need to work on being accountable to myself,” she admits, reflecting on how much easier it is to show up when others are depending on her. For her, being part of a team brings a powerful sense of unity, a feeling that everyone is in it together, fuelling each other’s efforts. But when it’s just her alone, she faces a quieter, more introspective battle. “When it’s just me, myself, and I, I’m like, ‘Woah, why is it so quiet?’” she laughs, acknowledging the loneliness that can come with being solely responsible for her own drive. And it’s in those moments of solitude that her anxiety creeps in, sometimes questioning the meaning and value of her journey. “Does this even mean anything to me? How much do I actually want it?” she ponders, opening up about the tough internal dialogues she grapples with. Despite this, her commitment to improving this aspect of her mindset shows incredible resilience. Vwairé is learning to strike a balance between seeking the support of others and cultivating that inner motivation, determined to keep progressing even in the face of those quieter, more challenging moments.
When you’re rising to the top, how on earth do you protect your wellbeing? “You have to accept that there is that yin and yang – you can’t always be going hell for leather!” she says. Having often pushed herself to the brink of burnout with the toxic all-or-nothing mindset, Vwaire has learned the hard way that sustainable performance isn’t about constantly running at full throttle. “I am the CEO of burnout,” she jokes, sharing how the rush of going all-in feels rewarding in the short term, but inevitably leads to a crash. “It feels good for five minutes, then it all comes crashing down for about a month after that.” She’s discovered that elite sport thrives in a high-pressure environment, but there’s a fine line between pushing yourself to succeed and overextending. “The whole point of elite sport is to create that high-pressure environment – it almost feels like every single stroke you’re taking you feel like you’re being judged by a panel,” she explains. “You didn’t achieve it by going at 2000% every day!” Vwairé stresses, reflecting on how burnout not only hinders recovery but can derail progress for weeks. “At the end of the day, it’s the athletes that train smart that make it to the start line,” she concludes. It’s a powerful reminder that balance is just as important as determination, and taking care of oneself is not a luxury, but a necessity to elevate ourselves to the best version we can be.
motivation
My biggest learnings from my conversation with Vwairé is that we don’t need to apologise for taking up space, for being unapologetically ourselves, or for following our own unique path. In a world that constantly pressures us to conform, people like Vwairé are living proof that it’s not only okay to stand out, it’s essential. She is a reminder that our differences are not weaknesses, but rather sources of strength and power – we should celebrate these differences! The impact of Vwairé’s courage and authenticity will ripple beyond the waters of competitive rowing. Through her, we are all reminded that when we embrace our individuality and push forward with purpose, we’re not just achieving greatness for ourselves – we are inspiring those who come after us to rise too.
Vwairé wears the Sweaty Betty Power Set in Forest Green and Power Gym Leggings, in Flex Blue and Stamina Seamless Sports Bra
Want to own your power?! Find out more about Sweaty Betty’s multi-workout Power collection here.
Be sure to keep up with Vwairé on IG: @vwaiire and listen to ‘Self-Proclaimed’ Vwairé’s podcast here.
A Glorious Sport Production:
Creative & Art Direction: This Is Root
Photography: Heiko Prigge
Director of Photography: Robin Weaser
Photography Assistants: Joe Horton, Callum O’Keefe
Hair & Make-Up: Alev Miller
Hair & Make-Up Assistant: Rae Anglim
Wardrobe: Nicole Daly
Runners: Rose Arthur, Eleri Shone
With thanks to Mount Pleasant Studios
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