The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
2023-24 Rowing Roster
Roster
Mette Nielsen
- Position:
- Starboard
- Height:
- 5-9
- Class:
- Graduate Student
- High School:
- Masrelisborg Gymnasium / Aarhus Roklob
- Prev School:
- Yale
- Hometown:
- Aarhus, Denmark
- Major:
- Global Policy Studies - Masters
- Big 12 Champion (2024)
- San Diego Crew Classic Jessop-Whittier Cup winner (2024)
AS A GRADUATE STUDENT (2024)
- Stroked the First Varsity 8+ to victory at the Big 12 Conference Championship, winning with a time of 6:08.714.
- Earned Big 12 Conference Boat of the Week honors on May 1 after a dominating performance at the Longhorn Invite.
- Stroked the First Varsity 8+ in the Longhorn Invite, winning with a time of 6:00.969 to defeat top-ranked Stanford, No. 12 Virginia and No. 14 Ohio State.
- Stroked the First Varsity 8+ at No. 9 Michigan, winning with a time of 6:08.10.
- Earned Big 12 Conference Boat of the Week honors on April 10 after a stand-out performance at the San Diego Crew Classic.
- Stroked the First Varsity 8+ at the 2024 San Diego Crew Classic, finishing first in heats (6:27.626) and the final (6:23.272) to win the Jessop-Whitter Cup Invitational.
Before Texas
While rowing for Yale, won the 2022 NCAA Second Eight national championship … a four-time selection to the Danish U23 national team in 2018-21 … a two-time member of the Danish Junior National Team (2016-17) … won the 2017 European Indoor Championship … the 1x champion at the 2015 Baltic Cup.
Why Texas?
“I chose Texas because of the great rowing program and opportunity to row and study at the highest level. I spoke with the coaches and was really impressed with their rowing philosophy as well the high caliber of the team.”
What led you to pursue rowing and what do you love most about it?
“My hometown had a rowing summer camp. I always loved the outdoors and water sports so after the camp I just kept rowing and never looked back. The thing I love most about rowing is the feeling you get when everything falls into place, and it feels like you’re flying down the river.”
Personal
- Parents are Thomas and Lene Koechs Nielsen
- Has a younger sister, Rikke, who will row for Harvard beginning in Fall 2023
- Began rowing at the age of 12
- Enjoys cooking, baking and exploring the outdoors
