“Even being an athlete is never something I thought I could do”: Henley Women’s Regatta winner talks para rowing
Amalia Sangiovanni Vincentelli speaks on her glittering season (so far!) as a para single sculler, Paralympic classification and what it’s like to train on the Paralympic Pathway
Credit: AllMarkOne
Amalia’s second day of racing at Henley (ever) saw her facing up against defending winner of the Grosvenor Cup Samantha Gough in the PR3 Women’s Single Sculls final. Amalia first tried rowing four years ago, but after taking a year and a half break had only started training and racing consistently in September.
“The final was quite tough. Samantha was ahead for a lot of it and I knew she was a really experienced sculler. I stuck to my race plan and I’m really glad I did. I pulled ahead into the second half – it was really good racing experience to now know I can do that.”
“When I won that one, that’s when I thought – I could actually win this.”
The PR3 (a Paralympic classification for adaptive rowers who compete without adaptations in the boat) event at HWR received a record-breaking entry, with eight scullers racing for the title – more than double the previous year.
“I hadn’t raced most of these girls before,” Amalia said. “I was just trying to get through the first round. I won the first round and that gave me more confidence to focus on the next one. When I won that one, that’s when I thought – I could actually win this.”
Amalia collects her gold medal at Junior Inter Regional Regatta 2025. Credit: AllMarkOne
Amalia set a new record in her heat, winning against Ella Keady of Ireland’s Tribesmen RC in a time of 06:42.0. She then went head to head with Rebekah Knight of Wales’ Llandaff RC and once again emerged victorious. Her final was raced against Scotland’s Samantha Gough of St Andrew BC.
“Crossing the line in the final felt amazing – it was quite surreal,” Amalia reflected.
“I never thought I’d be able to excel in sport. At school I was on the E team for everything, I really struggled with running because of my Talipes. I thought ‘I’m not a sporty person, that’s not who I am’. To have done well in a sporting event, even being an athlete is never something I thought I could do.”
Winning Henley Women’s Regatta sometimes marks the end of a successful season for crews – but Amalia’s eyes are on another prize. “I’m racing the British Rowing Club Championships, in the PR3 event and in the Championship Single Sculls.” Amalia already holds one British title for 2025, having won the Junior Inter Regional Regatta Girls’ Adaptive Single Sculls event.
After the Club Championships, Amalia will be heading back to Nottingham for GB Performance Development Camp in August. Currently on the Paralympic Pathway, Amalia is undertaking a tried and tested training programme that develops future generations of Paralympic Champions.
“The first thing I’ll say about the Pathway is that it’s so welcoming,” Amalia said. “Everyone that you meet is inspiring. I met Paralympic Champion Benjamin Pritchard when I went to the National Training Centre for the first time – he was so kind to me and gave me some great advice. I felt really welcome.”
Athletes on the Paralympic Pathway row and train with their home clubs, with additional support offered from GB Rowing Team Paralympic coaches. “The coaches are really supportive – my club coach and I have video chats with Paralympic Development Coach Rob Cree to talk through my progress. My club has helped me to be where I am today – my coach Flora Turnbull and the other coaches at Rob Roy BC have really supported me being on the Pathway and with my racing.”
Amalia training at at GB Performance Development Camp in April. Credit: British Rowing
“The Paralympic Pathway is very intertwined with the Olympic Pathway, we have the same resources. At camp there’s lots of experienced coaches and video analysis and pieces – I’ve learned so much.”
Amalia wants to see domestic adaptive and para rowing continue to grow. “I think if there’s a chance you can classify – it doesn’t matter who you are, what experience you have had in rowing – get involved. It’s opened up so many opportunities for me and given me goals to go for. It’s changed my life for the better. There’s nothing to lose – give it a go!”
Where does Amalia want to get to with her rowing?
“I would absolutely love to go to the Paralympics. But ultimately, I want to keep enjoying the sport and encourage other people to get involved in sport and in rowing. I didn’t have much confidence that I could be good in sport, but I’ve gained so much confidence through this.”
Do you have what it takes to join the Paralympic Pathway? Find out more about classification and sign up for testing or to talk to one of our coaches today
