Sarah McKay

Sarah learned to sweep at the University of Liverpool, where she quickly developed a passion for the sport. However, at the time, she was far from being a high-performance athlete, as she was focused on enjoying student life and training to be a nurse.

After qualifying as a nurse, Sarah moved to Chester and started working at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. During this period, she ramped up her training and decided to challenge herself by competing in the GB trials. To take part, she had to learn how to scull, as there were no local training partners for a pair. In her first trials she finished last.

Sarah then moved to Grosvenor Rowing Club, where she was coached by Paul Turner for four years. Under his guidance, she began to climb the ranks and find enjoyment in the progress she made. Throughout this time, she worked as an oncology nurse, balancing the demands of her job with training.

In September 2024, Sarah took a sabbatical from work to pursue rowing full-time by joining Leander Club. While she misses her nursing, she cherishes the privilege of being a full-time athlete and knows that her nursing career will be waiting for her when she eventually returns to work.