Portrait shot of Kyla Otway

Kyla Otway

Rowing

  1. Grantee | May 2022

Kyla is a naturally gifted sportsperson who has represented Marlborough in Touch Rugby, Netball and Tennis, Tasman in Athletics and Canterbury and New Zealand in Tennis. Kyla’s rowing career started at high school where, in her novice year, she won two golds and a bronze at Maadi Cup. Aged 16 she was selected in the NZ U19 Long List Junior Trial. Unfortunately, a serious knee injury in Year 13 meant a premature end to Kyla’s high school rowing. Amazingly one year later, due to her hard work, resilience, and determination to return to top form, Kyla won three medals at the 2022 National Rowing Champs, gained a NZ U23 and U21 Trial and was recently named in the U21 team. During her time at high school Kyla was a great role model due to the dedication, sportsmanship and outstanding attitude she showed towards her sporting commitments and her encouragement of others. In 2021 Kyla was awarded a 100% scholarship to University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA), the top ranked public university in the world. Once Kyla completes her degree in Psychology at UCLA she plans to return to NZ and trial for the NZ Rowing Team to attend the LA Olympics in 2028.