Ananya Prasad Tom MacDougall BBC News, South Yorkshire 7 December 2024 A university alumna aims to be the “first woman of colour” to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Ananya Prasad, aged 34, hailing from Sheffield, is determined to fulfill the 3,000-mile journey from La Gomera in the Canary Islands, to Antigua. She intends to […]
A university alumna aims to be the “first woman of colour” to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
Ananya Prasad, aged 34, hailing from Sheffield, is determined to fulfill the 3,000-mile journey from La Gomera in the Canary Islands, to Antigua.
She intends to raise funds for the Mental Health Foundation and her uncle’s orphanage in India, while also aiming to enhance diversity in rowing and adventure sports.
She remarked: “I aspire to participate so that one day, it will be common for women and people of colour to be involved in adventure sports rather than just an exception.”
Originally from Bengaluru, India, Ananya relocated to the UK with her family at the age of five and has consistently been passionate about fitness, nature, and adventure.
She mentioned that she had been following the World’s Toughest Row event for several years but was uncertain if it was something she could undertake.
“I shared the common perspective that this is incredible but utterly insane, and I could never envision myself doing something like this,” she stated.
“However, as I learned more about the competition, the experiences, and the revelations about oneself, it transitioned into a personal goal.”
Ananya expressed that she has been preparing physically for the expedition and is getting familiar with “every detail and component” of her custom-built 25ft ocean rowing boat in preparation for the journey.
However, she remarked that preparing mentally for the possibility of spending between 60 and 80 days alone would be a significant challenge.
“Managing situations on your own is crucial,” she said.
“I need to be capable of visualizing potential mishaps and planning my responses to prevent panic.”
She mentioned that other experienced rowers advised her to keep her reasons for participating at the forefront of her mind.
“If this were solely for personal gain, it would be easy to give up and say ‘I did my best, that’s fine,'” she stated.
“[Yet] if you are participating for a greater purpose or possess a strong rationale for your involvement, it will encourage you to persevere and help you through the tough times.”
She shared that her choice to support the Mental Health Foundation stems from her personal experiences and the organization’s “ridiculous and unnecessary stigma.”
The second charity she chose is her uncle’s orphanage and school, named the Deenabandhu Trust, where she has volunteered during family trips.
While women of colour have achieved this journey as part of a team, Ananya aspires to become the first to accomplish it solo, hoping to inspire change in the sport.
“The evident lack of diversity in adventure sports has always stood out to me,” she remarked.
“Though there are many factors at play, I aim to encourage more women and people of colour to engage in adventure sports and rowing, providing representation in outdoor activities for these communities.”
“To date, fewer than 25 women have completed a solo ocean row, and I hope to become the first woman of colour to achieve this feat.”
Tune in to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch the latest episode of Look North or share a story you think we should highlight here.
