Only months into her senior rowing career for Great Britain, Finnola Stratton is preparing to make a splash on the world stage a long way from her farm in Somerset.
Stratton was crowned under-23 world champion in the women’s quadruple sculls last year, and she is the apprentice under Olympic champions Lola Anderson, Imogen Grant and Hannah Scott at the 2026 World Rowing Championships.
Stratton, who is studying a part-time master’s degree in public policy at the University of Reading, grew up on the family farm in Burnett and this week takes on the best rowers on the planet in Amsterdam.
“I grew up with chickens, laying hens and driving tractors around the fields,” Stratton said.
“It’s lovely to look back at the path I’ve taken. I’ve learned about how enjoyment of sport is integral to how far you go, and when I go back to Avon County Rowing Club, I love seeing people enjoying rowing.
“I’ve worked hard to get where I am. Sport didn’t come naturally to me when I was younger, but I kept on because I loved what I was doing.
“It’s the best job in the world to wake up and move your body. There’s nothing better than to wake up in the cold winter months and see the sunrise – it gives you self-belief.”
Stratton rode horses until she was 14 years old, inspired by her mother Kathleen Stratton, née Herbison, who competed for Ireland as an eventer when she was 18.
Stratton made her own senior debut at the Seville World Rowing Cup I in June, and the former single sculls champion at BUCS level came away with second place alongside Scott, Anderson and Sarah McKay.
Her role is to help power the quad – and occasionally to keep team morale up – and the West Country rower wants to follow in the footsteps of her crewmates by landing Olympic gold.
“When I was coming into the team, my teammates were celebrities,” she said. “This is a crazy experience for me, there's no limit as to what I can learn from them.
“I think I bring a bit of humour because it's my first season. I can joke because they know what they're doing - they've got their heads screwed on!
“Every day I learn something new and we work together as a team. We communicate and do all the things we need to do.
“Sometimes they forget that I'm not as experienced as them, but there's no better place to be if you want to learn how to be good at rowing, than with three Olympic champions. It's going to get you somewhere.”
The world’s best will descend on the Dutch capital from 24-30 August, and however wide-eyed Stratton once was, she is confident that the GB crew can improve on silver last summer in Shanghai, China.
The quartet won gold at the World Rowing Cup III Lucerne and also won the Princess Grace Challenge Cup at Henley.
She added: “I think this squad is always going in to get a medal and to race our hearts out.
“We haven't had the most even trajectory into these World Championships, but with the amount of planning and hard work that's gone into training, we're going to perform at our absolute best.
“I'm really excited to go to my first senior World Championships. I can hardly believe last year I was doing under-23s and now I’m heading to seniors.
“I'm really looking forward to going to Amsterdam and I hope we can put a performance down that we're proud of.”
Pictures: Benedict Tufnell | British Rowing
Sportsbeat 2026