Samantha Voss | Sport

My name is Samantha Voss. I am a rower, a student, a bartender and a master of surprises.

I began rowing at St Peter’s School, Cambridge at the end of 2010. Through every family holiday, injury and training break I have missed being on the water. It’s in engrained in my blood now. No view can beat that of a Lake Karapiro sunrise.

I have been very fortunate to have experienced numerous podium placings every season since my novice year and this hard work has been acknowledged by selection into the New Zealand Junior, Under 21 and Under 23 Rowing Teams over the last 4 years. 2018 will be my last year eligible for the Under 23 team and I will put everything out there to gain selection for this team and the Elite Team beyond that. If selected I will represent the silver fern with pride with the goal of winning gold medals for New Zealand at both the World Championships and Olympic Games.

However I am not only an athlete, despite sport transferring into my studies. Through the University of Waikato I am working my way toward a Bachelor’s Degree in Health, Sport and Human Performance. With the help of this degree I do know that in the future I want to pass on the support that has been provided to me and pay it forward, to assist high performance athletes to achieve to the best of their ability.

The Adastra foundation are one of a number of the main groups and organisations which have supported my development not only as an athlete, but also as a human being, and for that I am so very thankful.