Imogen Parker-Elms '22 Recruiting Profile

I thrive off determination and relentlessness amongst everything that I do. I have been rowing/sculling since 2018 and the lessons that it has taught me are invaluable. It is my positively addictive passion. Since the age of 13, I have rowed almost every day to this date, trying to improve and improve my skills and fitness to become the very best version of myself. I have experienced many setbacks within this sport- injuries and surgeries, yet always fought back to where I had left off.

I am motivated by challenge and exceedining our perceived limits. By pushing my limits so far that people start to forget what they once thought was as far as I could reach. Over the years I have competed in both rowing and long distance running at national levels. I also completed the London Marathon aged 18 in my gap year, once I had finished my A-Levels, in a time of 3 hours and 4 minutes, with a tibial stress fracture. I had a goal time of 2 hours and 40/42 minutes, however was faced with a painstaking injury. I apply this determination and courage with me in everything I do in order to achieve. I believe nothing should be given or awarded without hard work and bravery.

I believe in nothing other than giving absolutely everything. Being 5'6 in a sport which recruits only the biggest and strongest athletes, I had to prove myself using my mindset to generate improvement in my technique and fitness. From a young age, I was one of the only girls rowing at my school, and therefore would train with the boys 3/4 years older than me. I loved it. I thrived off the challenge of keeping up with, and eventually over-taking, boys who were trialling for GB. If you put your mind to it and work for it, anything is possible.

I joined Molesey Boat Club in 2023, which was an empowering decision, solely from the size and attitude of the squad. Training and competing amongst other men and women with the same mindset, goals and interests gave me an addictive and exciting approach that I had not previously experienced being in such a small club. I believe emoldening your teammates is what can get you over the finish line much quicker than an extra set of squats!

Alike my attitude in sport, I have always been consistent with my academic attitudes and grades. I achieved two A*'s and an A in Art and Design, Physical Education, and Psychology. I am proud to have worked to achieve these grades whilst balancing training and the burden of the Covid-19 Pandemic which unfortunately fell at the time of our A-Level preparation.

I would be enormously grateful for the opportunity to be considered for a US collegiate team to be a part of an incredible team, meet incredible people, and, of course, win. It would be a life-changing chance to shape my future, and help my future team to achieve our goals.