Kate Nifton will graduate from the University of Texas in 2022 and is currently on track to win the U.S. W4- in stroke at the Paris Olympics.
1. What made you decide to join a rowing practice for the first time? Was there any memorable experience?
My dad owns a rowing club in Austin and is a rower himself, so he'd been trying to convince me to try rowing my whole life. After quitting competitive dance during my sophomore year of high school, I finally relented. I agreed to attend a week of practice on the condition that my dad would take me shopping for Lululemon and greet me with a smoothie when he picked me up from practice each day. I didn't have high expectations, but I was quickly captivated by the Texas Rowing Center team and have been rowing ever since.
In my first rowing practice, we did a one-mile running test. I wasn't very good at running back then, so after the first few laps, I stopped and tried to start walking. To my surprise, my dad appeared out of nowhere and started running next to me, encouraging me to keep running and finish the race. Apparently, my dad had been hiding in his car and watching the whole practice. Even though he watches from afar now, my dad is still my biggest fan and always encourages me to overcome difficulties.
2. During practices, races and other events, did you ever fall in love with the sport or realize that rowing might not be so bad after all? When did you realize you could make the national team?
After my first week of practice in high school, I was hooked on rowing. Most of the girls on the team already rowed together or went to the same school, but I immediately felt like I belonged. Rowing attracts some of the most generous, hardworking people you'll ever meet, and I'm so grateful to be surrounded by them every day.
3. What was your best and worst race/practice?
My best race was the Varsity Eight Final at the 2021 NCAA Championships, not just because I won, but because it represented what our entire program was about. It was the first national championship win for the University of Texas and the culmination of years of hard work and effort from our women.
Nifton stroking the 2021 Longhorn V8+
My worst race was at the Pumpkinhead Regatta in 2017. My dad and I were competing in a “Father and Son Double,” an event that my dad takes very seriously. In an attempt to make the shortest possible course, we ran straight into a beginner quad boat coming around a curve. The bow of my dad's brand new boat came off, and needless to say, we didn't win the race.
4. What is the best thing you have done in sports, or something that no one knows about?
During winter break during my freshman year of college, a friend and teammate from Texas was in town, so we went rowing together as a pair with our high school club. One of us forgot to lock up our oars and ended up falling into the water about two miles into the row. I was so grateful that at least everyone was home for the break and no one noticed. However, when I got back to the dock, the first person I saw was my coach, Dave. Coincidentally, he had chosen that day to give rowing lessons to some of our neighbors.
5. What advice would you give to young rowers?
Enjoy the people around you. The most valuable thing you get out of rowing is the relationships you build with your teammates and coaches. They are the people who help you get through the tough times and celebrate the good times with you.
home town: Austin, Texas
Club Affiliation: Princeton Training Center
date of birth: July 5, 2000
height: 6 feet 0 inches
weight: 160 pounds
Undergraduate education: Texas, 2022
National Team: 4 – Junior, 2017-18, Under-23, 2022, Olympic, 2024
International Results: Finished third in four at the 2024 World Cup II…Won first place in four at the 2022 World Rowing Under-23 Championships…Won bronze medal in coxed four at the 2018 World Rowing Junior Championships…Finished 10th in pairs at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games…Finished 9th in pairs at the 2017 World Rowing Junior Championships.
National results: Winner of the varsity eight and team titles at the 2022 and 2021 NCAA Women's Rowing Championships…Won the varsity eight at the Big 12 Conference Championships in 2019, 2021 and 2022…Placed second in the varsity eight and second in the team standings at the 2019 NCAA Women's Rowing Championships…Placed second in pairs at the 2018 USRowing Youth National Championships.
Personal: Kaitlyn was named the Big 12 Athlete of the Year in 2023 and was also named a Big 12 Scholar Athlete in 2023. She was named USRowing's 2022 Under 23 Female Athlete of the Year and was nominated for the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year. Kaitlyn enjoys working out, drawing, makeup, and digital marketing. Before taking up rowing, she danced for 13 years. In high school, she performed in the Macy's Day Parade. Kaitlyn's father was a club rower at the University of Texas and also rowed for the national team after college. He currently owns a rowing club in Austin called the Texas Rowing Center, where she rowed during her high school years. During her sophomore year of high school, her father finally convinced Kaitlyn to try rowing, and she has loved it ever since. One of her personal heroes is her father. In addition to being the owner of the Texas Rowing Center, he also founded the TRC High Performance Center. Caitlin says it's so inspiring to see him doing what he loves every day and changing the lives of the rowers who train there. Her favorite place to compete is Sarasota, Florida, and her favorite place to travel is London, England. Her most memorable Olympic moment was when Kelly Strug overcame an ankle injury to win the gold medal for Team USA at the 1996 Olympics.
