We are delighted that Sam has joined our BRIT Ambassador family and is championing the BRIT Challenge to support and improve young adult mental health and fitness throughout the UK.
Sam represented Great Britain at the 2014 U23 World Rowing Championships, where she won silver in the Women’s Eight, and at the 2015 U23 World Championships, where she won bronze in the Women’s Four. Having been provisionally selected to represent Great Britain at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, unfortunately the rescheduling of the Games meant that Sam had to withdraw from the selection process in 2021, due to an ongoing back injury that required spinal surgery. She is currently in rehabilitation and hoping to make a full recovery. Her aspiration, if she does make a full recovery, is to attempt to secure a place in the Great Britain team for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
“As a former student at the University of Bath and competing and training with young elite athletes with the Great Britain Rowing team, I know that many young adults are struggling with mental health difficulties. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the numbers of students and young adults needing vital support and specialist services are increasing dramatically. Looking after our health, fitness and wellbeing has never been so important. The annual BRIT Challenge is a great way for every UK university, college, specialist college and Students’ Union to enter teams and encourage student and staff to participate in some form of fun exercise while raising money for charity.
It's inspiring that every university and college team taking part in the BRIT Challenge are invited to choose a second charity to raise funds for, alongside BRIT, to support local, regional, and national charities. The BRIT Challenge is a great way to improve mental health and fitness on campus or at home and has been designed to be inclusive, enabling students and staff of all abilities to take part and work as a team to cover the 2,022 mile distance by either; hand-cycling, cycling, wheelchair pushing, swimming, walking, jogging, running, rowing or paddling (canoeing, kayaking or paddle-boarding); whatever takes their fancy!
I am delighted to be a BRIT Ambassador and hope to encourage my fellow Great Britain rowers to join our BRIT Ambassador family; by promoting the BRIT Challenge at universities or colleges of our choice, helping to destigmatise mental health and championing equality, diversity, and inclusion. Together we can have a positive impact on improving young adult and student mental health throughout the UK. I hope we can encourage students across the UK to take up rowing too!
I look forward to supporting and encouraging students at The University of Bath as they take on their BRIT Challenge in February.”
Sam Courty
Great Britain rower
Sam graduated from the University of Bath in 2015, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport and Exercise Science. While at Bath, Sam was a member of the University Rowing Club and a committee member between 2012 and 2014 (Novice Captain and Senior Women’s Captain).
Sam’s main focus right now is on her recovery. She is training and rehabbing with British Rowing and her back injury post-surgery is being closely monitored in the hope that she can continue her elite athlete career and fulfil her dream of competing at an Olympic Games.
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