Florida Tech Panther Women’s Row Team Wins Silver Medal at European Junior Championships

By  //  October 7, 2020

Noni overcame obstacles due to COVID-19 to help lead her Greek National Team to success

Florida Tech freshman women’s rower Ismini Noni, a member of the Greek National Team, helped lead her Women’s Four boats to a silver medal at the recent European Rowing Junior Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. (Florida Tech image)

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Florida Tech freshman women’s rower Ismini Noni, a member of the Greek National Team, helped lead her Women’s Four boats to a silver medal at the recent European Rowing Junior Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

Noni, a who hails from Volos, Greece, was thrilled with her team’s performance at the European Junior Regatta.

“I found the whole competition awesome and challenging, and the outcome was perfect both for me and my country,” Noni said.

Although her second-place finish is quite an achievement, Noni explains that her team’s experience to get to that point was rather unique, especially as travel restrictions greatly impacted her rowing team’s ability to train together.

“With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece everything was different with most of the changes greatly affecting the way we train,” she said.

“Since the team work on location was not possible, we were given some equipment at home to prepare for the championship.

“For about two months I trained at home, being coached and supervised by the Greek National Team Coach. Travelling due to lockdown was not possible until June when I went to rowing camp and stayed there until the championships at the end of September.”

Despite it feeling like the world has stopped due to sports and entertainment events getting cancelled since March, Noni mentioned that having a positive outlook has kept her in check during these difficult times. (Florida Tech image)

Despite it feeling like the world has stopped due to sports and entertainment events getting cancelled since March, Noni mentioned that having a positive outlook has kept her in check during these difficult times.

“When competitions started getting cancelled, I looked at things on the bright side,” she stated.

“Otherwise, I would have lost my spirit had I taken the whole situation in a negative way. I knew if I remained positive, I would be able to be able to realize the positives that come out of challenging obstacles like a pandemic.”

Due to the complications with travelling in and out of different countries during the pandemic, Noni will not be able to make it to campus until January for the spring semester.

When she arrives in January, Noni expressed her excitement in meeting with her new Florida Tech teammates and enjoying the beautiful views in waters around Melbourne, Florida.

“I look forward to meeting the team and working together over the four years,” said Noni.

“Coming from Greece, we have some of the best coastlines in the world, making for amazing scenery which is the main reason I got into rowing. I chose to come to Florida Tech for the similar breathtaking views of the coast. As a person born near the ocean, I can’t stay away for long.”

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