---
title: Alum Conquers ‘World’s Toughest Row’
date: 2024-02-21T05:30:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/alum-conquers-worlds-toughest-row"
section: Articles
---
# Alum Conquers ‘World’s Toughest Row’

*February 21, 2024* — by [Annie Krakower](/author/annie-krakower)


> Terp, Teammate Complete Race Across Atlantic in Record Time

*Worldstoughestrow 52398 1920x1080 — Lisa Roland, left, and Nini Champion ’16 raise celebratory flares at the finish line of the World’s Toughest Row in Antigua last month. The pair, known as Team Ocean Grown, finished the 3,000-mile race in 45 days, one hour and 27 minutes, setting a world record for a female duo.*

For Lauren “Nini” Champion ’16, rowing a boat doesn’t so much happen gently down the stream as it does fiercely across the ocean, amid towering waves, roaring winds and unforgiving sun.

Last month, the alum completed what’s known as the [World’s Toughest Row](https://www.worldstoughestrow.com/), an unassisted 3,000-mile trek on the open sea from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to the Caribbean island of Antigua. Along with her teammate, Lisa Roland, Champion lived up to her name, crossing the finish line in 45 days to set a world record for a female duo rowing across the Atlantic.

“I felt kind of a security and confidence that I just didn’t know I had,” she said. “There’s something about being in the middle of the ocean that feels kind of natural.”


*Nini Champion rows*


*Nini Champion and Lisa Roland rowing*




**Topics:** [People](https://today.umd.edu/tags/people)


**Tags:** [Alumni](https://today.umd.edu/topic/alumni)


**Units:** [College of Agriculture and Natural Resources](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-agriculture-and-natural-resources), [College of Arts and Humanities](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-arts-and-humanities)