Keira's Story.

See how rowing impacted Keira's life and why she supports Hope on Water's mission to empower diverse athletes.

Keira’s journey into rowing wasn’t a direct path but a remarkable one defined by resilience and purpose. Growing up in a family of elite athletes — her dad and brothers played professional soccer, and her mom ran track — Keira often felt like the odd one out. Though her childhood was consumed by sports, none felt like her own. That changed around age 10 when she spotted a rowing center near her equestrian lessons. A single learn-to-row class introduced her to the sport that would shape her life.

Keira quickly fell in love with rowing and decided to make it her sport. When it came time to choose a high school, she faced a pivotal decision: attend an expensive private school with an existing rowing team that her family couldn’t afford or stay local and start a rowing program in her hometown of Hackensack, New Jersey. She chose the latter, founding Hackensack Crew to make rowing accessible to a socioeconomically diverse city. Under her leadership, the team thrived — winning a New Jersey State Championship in its first year and competing at elite events like the Head of the Charles, USRowing Youth Nationals, and Scholastic Nationals.

While her crew team provided a welcoming and inclusive environment, Keira’s experience in the broader rowing community wasn’t as supportive. As one of the few Black athletes in a predominantly white sport, she endured racism ranging from offensive stereotypes to being called slurs. At a rowing camp, her speed on the water led some to cruelly suggest that she must have “been shipped over from Africa.” Despite these challenges, Keira pushed forward, earning multiple Division I scholarship offers and ultimately accepting one to a university in San Diego.

College, however, was another turning point. Moving across the country brought its own set of challenges. Homesickness, adjusting to post-pandemic college life, and being one of very few Black athletes on a team of around 50 weighed heavily on her. Keira also faced significant knee injuries that sidelined her from the sport she loved. The combination of physical and emotional struggles took a profound toll on her mental health, leaving her feeling as though rowing had taken more from her than it had given.

After returning home to receive proper treatment for her injuries, Keira reconnected with Hackensack Crew, this time as a coach. Coaching reignited her love for rowing. Seeing her athletes succeed on and off the water reminded her of the transformative power of the sport and helped her discover a new purpose: giving back. Keira found fulfillment in using her experiences to create opportunities for others, helping young athletes from diverse backgrounds find their place in rowing.

Today, Keira serves as a coach and as Vice President of Hope on Water (HOW), all while completing her degree. She works tirelessly to make rowing more accessible and equitable, using her platform to inspire and support young athletes. Through HOW, Keira channels her passion and resources to pave the way for the next generation of rowers, ensuring that others have the opportunities she fought so hard to create. Her story is a testament to perseverance and the transformative power of sports—not just through personal achievement but by creating opportunities for others to thrive.

Keira’s journey reminds us that even in the face of adversity, it’s possible to turn pain into purpose. Through her work with HOW, she continues to inspire and uplift the rowing community, one stroke at a time.