Setting Albanian rowing in motion

Theka, leading the way for Albanian rowing

When Ilda Theka looks out across the waters that she regularly rows, she looks at landmarks many miles away from her home country of Albania. From her base in Italy Theka has single-handedly brought recognition to the sport in her native country.

Theka is Albania’s only rower.

The 20 year old is also the first Albanian to row internationally and in the four years since she took up the sport, Theka has already participated in two World Championships.

“When I told people in Albania that I rowed they were surprised,” says Theka. “But now I notice that there is more interest than before? even though there are no rowing clubs there.”

Albania does have suitable lakes for rowing and Theka notes that near the capital, Tirana, there is a small lake. Albania’s long coastline also means there is rowing potential in sheltered harbour areas.

Meanwhile in Italy under the guidance of team manager Antonio Bassi and coaches Giuseppe Moioli and Franco Zucchi, Theka has improved from a D final finish in 2003 to the C final at last year’s World Championships in the lightweight single.

Bassi speaks highly of Theka and remembers her when she started as a slim and weak 17 year old. “Now she is a perfect lightweight,” says Bassi, “with a very strong will.”

Curiosity drew Theka to rowing after her family moved to Italy to avoid unsafe conditions in Albania. She discovered the club, Canottieri Moto Guzzi, near to her home and joined. “I hadn’t done any other sport until I started rowing,” says Theka. She now trains 10 times a week and her long-term desire is to take part in the Olympic Games.

Finding balance in life and rowing

Bassi sees Theka as a positive example for the future of Albanian rowing as not only is she improving in the sport, but she also balances her life maintaining high grades at the Bicocca University in Milan where she studies biotechnology. 

“I would like Ilda to be an example for young people in Albania,” says Bassi who hopes that she will inspire others to take up rowing or other sports.

This year Theka will compete at the Mediterranean Games in Almeira, Spain at the end of June and the World Rowing Under-23 Championships in Amsterdam in July.

The Albanian Rowing Federation came into the FISA fold 12 years ago but the federation is not yet able to start up due to a lack of funds. Facilities are ready to be used at two established yacht clubs along the Adriatic Sea. There are also two large internal lakes suitable for rowing. All the federation needs now is to secure boats.

“All it would take is the donation of some boats and Albanian rowing would be under way,” says FISA’s executive director Matt Smith.