Liv Cheesmur’s story:”I can’t begin to think what my life would be like without rowing”

After finishing her first year at Princeton, hear from the reigning World Rowing U23 Champion who’s back in the same event she won gold in last year

The international stage is a familiar setting for Liv Cheesmur. The Molesey BC rower has just finished her first year at Princeton University and has once again been selected in the Women’s Quadruple Sculls at the upcoming U23 World Rowing Championships.

Gold at last year’s u23 World Rowing Championships in the WOmen’s Quadruple Sculls came after winning bronze and silver in the U19 Quadruple Sculls and Double Sculls in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

This year, Cheesmur will fly to Duisburg, Germany, with three new faces making debuts for Great Britain. Despite standing on the cusp of her fourth time representing her country, the 2025 Wargrave Challenge Cup winner is adamant there’s plenty to learn.

“I hope everyone feels like it’s equal, because we’ve all shared the same seat racing process and it’s very rigorous,” explained Cheesmur.

“If you get in, you’ve earned your spot, and you’re equal. I think I personally recognise that I do have experience from Worlds, whether it’s U19s or U23s so I hope that can help with the boat, but everyone is adding their own bits to the crew.”

Lara Grant, Grace Dawson, and Zara Povey all bring a wealth of experience to this year’s crews and will all add a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ to the quartet. Grace Povey is the perfect advert for the pathway at Edinburgh University BC, where she first learned to row, and now she’ll take her first strokes in red, white, and blue. Molesey BC’s Lara Grant won the inaugural Danesfield Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta and joining her is Reading University BC’s Zara Povey, who won Championship Quadruple Sculls and Double Sculls at BUCS Regatta.

“This is quite a short campaign compared to previous years. For me, coming back from the States has been nice because I haven’t been sculling all year,” said Cheesmur.

“It’s been good because I’m being led by other people who have produced such incredible results all year. We’ve got two Henley winners from the new Quad events so that’s great for me because I may feel like I’m not quite where I was last year, but they’re also helping me get back to that level in fast quads.

“I think I definitely prefer sculling, but it’s a shame to see the telemetry watts so much lower after you’ve been staring at the Eight’s screen all year,” said Cheesmur with a laugh.

It’s been a busy old year in New Jersey for Cheesmur. Settling into Ivy League education has it’s challenges; however, having a team like the Princeton Tigers behind you makes it all the more easy and allows for every moment to be savoured.

Victories throughout the season included the likes of Yale, Tennessee, and Syracuse, before winning gold in the Second Varsity Eight at the Ivy League Rowing Championships. The season laid the foundations for placing fifth in the Grand Final at the NCAA Rowing Championships in Gainesville, Georgia. Not bad for a first season as a Tiger.

Credit: AllMarkOne

“There are some of the Brits on this U23 team who are all in the same Princeton programme so it’s nice to come over with them. Lake Carnegie is an amazing place to row every day, so I love the school, and I love the team.

“My first year at Princeton has definitely been nothing I could have expected. Every day I’m in awe at being there. The campus itself is just incredible; I’m so lucky to have this experience.

“The school is incredibly challenging, but I love that; I wanted a really challenging academic environment. I just think that some of the professors that I’ve been taught by this year are outstanding in their own field. It enables you to have another interest and progress in another field of your life, while also working hard at rowing in a new programme.”

Returning back home allows for a reset following the pressures that come with preparing for and racing at the national championships. While racing at World Rowing Championships is a different type of pressure, it’s one that Cheesmur is ready to embrace and enjoy.

“Every campaign is so special and you never really know when it’s going to be your last, so you’ve got to cherish every experience because it’s very unique and I feel very lucky to be here.

“You always want that end goal of winning, and you can’t ever enter a championship not trying to achieve that because everyone is super competitive.

“Walking away with a medal is such a special thing, and you should be proud of any medal, but of course you want to get that win again. Ultimately, you want to have the best race you can in the final. If you do that and it’s the best you could have done in that project, then you can be proud.”

Cheesmur’s rowing journey has been a special one. Whether it’s winning Henley with Molesey BC, racing at the Coupe de la Jeunesse or at the World Rowing Championships, there were some spectacular memories made. However, the journey has been so much more than that, and rowing has had a lasting impact on her life and shaped the person she is today.

“I can’t even begin to think what my life would be like without rowing. It’s given me so many opportunities; I’m so lucky. I came from a state school which was amazing, but starting rowing enabled me to go to Princeton, which has been an unbelievable experience.

“The scholarships available in the US unis are pretty incredible. I’ve also met so many amazing people who have taught me lots of other skills in my life: time management, working cooperatively in high-pressure environments; it’s taught me how to work hard, and I think there’s never a better environment than rowing.
“I’ve made some of my best friends through rowing, and I couldn’t think of life without this sport.”