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When Ana Ciechanover returned home from summer break, she brought along with her a unique souvenir from a recent trip to Europe: a silver medal in rowing, representing the United States, in an international championship.
Ciechanover, 17, rows for the Redwood City-based rowing team Norcal Crew, which she has been part of since her freshman year at Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco, where she started her senior year this week. She tried out to compete in the championships last winter in San Diego. USRowing invited her to join the 2025 Under 19 World Championships on Lake Galvė in Trakai, Lithuania, which took place Aug. 6-10.
“It was such an amazing experience after working so hard for the whole summer; to cross the finish line and feel it was all worth it and perform at the highest level I’d ever performed,” said Ciechanover, who lives in Hillsborough and has aspirations to row in the Olympics someday. She’s also interested in pursuing a pre-med degree in college.
Ciechanover’s team, composed of eight rowers in the under-19-year-old division, powered past Australia to secure second place. Great Britain secured the gold in the race.
After the competition, Ciechanover, her mom, dad and older brother spent time in Copenhagen to celebrate the win before flying back for the start of school.
Laura Simon, the Women’s team coach at Norcal Crew, said in a prepared statement that “Ana’s performance at Nationals is a testament to her dedication and perseverance. She’s an incredible role model for our younger athletes, showing that hard work and commitment can lead to success at the highest level.” Ciechanover, an alum of the Nueva School in Hillsborough, will take on a greater leadership role in the club, serving as co-captain of her rowing team during her senior year.
Ciechanover’s dad, who rowed in college, introduced her to the sport. She’d previously played soccer and danced, but found that she really enjoys rowing because of the sport’s emphasis on working as a team in one boat. It also comes with mental challenges; you also learn how far you’re willing to push yourself, she said.
Founded in 2000, Norcal Crew (originally called Silicon Valley Crew) practices at Chesapeake and Westpoint Harbor, both in the Port of Redwood City. The athletes are high school-aged and race across the country. Silicon Valley Crew merged with a rowing team at the Bair Island Aquatic Center, also in Redwood City, in 2004. There are now about 200 team members, and summer camps are open to both high schoolers and middle schoolers.
Outside of her sport, the 6’1” rower likes to paint and play guitar. She enjoys hikes with her family and dog Nutmeg.
“Rowing takes up the majority of my time,” Ciechanover noted. “I find it important to take time for me to do other things I value. … I find it important to have some sort of detox.”
Her advice for aspiring rowers? “Do it!” she said. “I was definitely a little tentative when I started rowing. Almost immediately I knew that this was the sport (for me). Trust yourself and your coaches and your teammates to be there for you.”
She noted that you may experience roadblocks as a rower. For example, when you don’t hit a personal record on the rowing machine or a race plan doesn’t go exactly as intended, it can be discouraging.
“Being able to take a moment to talk to people around you and see how you can work through and be strong and more prepared (is important),” Ciechanover said. “Many aspects (of rowing) translate into day-to-day life.”
