Clara Guerra (ITA)

Rising Star – January 2019

At just 20 years old Italian single sculler Clara Guerra has shown she is a major force to reckon with. In the past season, she became a World Rowing Championship silver medallist – and took home plenty of medals from other competitions along the way.  The talented lightweight (for now) tells us what’s next.

Silver at the World Championships… was the best result I could imagine at the end of the season. I really didn’t think I’d be so close to winning the gold [0.17 seconds] but I’m still the happiest in the world for that result.

At the start line… I try to get my head empty from emotions or worries. I always know what to do during the race and I never think about what could happen at the end of the race… even if it is a World Championship.

In 2018 I… trained more and I spent lot of time improving my rowing technique. This year I really wanted a medal in the senior class and when I got the first two at the World Rowing Cup regattas I realised that this was my year. I’m really happy for these results.

The senior level is… completely different from the junior one. Now in a race you can’t do something wrong because everyone is at the top level and in a few seconds three or four boats could overtake you at the finish line (I know that very well!).

I discovered rowing… at nine years old when my dad took me in a double scull with him to try the sport – and from that moment I fell in love with rowing.

I keep rowing because… it’s my life. I love it and I learn a lot from it.

I train in… Sabaudia or in Piediluco during the training camps.  When I’m home I train on Lake Garda, in Lazise, where I started to row. During training camp, I can train better because I have my boat and the facilities I need to do a good job.

For me winter is… the worst season of the year. I don’t like cold so going out with the boat is quite terrible. The alternative is doing an erg – and that is also not so fun! I love summer time!

The best advice that I got from a coach is… don’t think about others – think of yourself and your boat and do the best that you can (from my father, who was my trainer for a long time).

My next goal is… to go to the Olympic Games.  I have to try to be one of the lightweights in the double scull. I think that after Tokyo I’ll try to continue my career in the single scull (not lightweight), because I prefer to stay alone on my boat.

I row full time… and this year I became part of the Military Team “Fiamme Gialle.” I’m very proud and happy for that.

There’s not much spare time to relax… but I like to stay with my boyfriend (he also rows).  We usually go to the cinema. I also like studying or reading.