In the heart of the Czech Republic, a former college rower is rewriting the narrative of gender equity in sports — in more ways than one.
Daniela Nachazelova, a former Washington State rower, is steering a new course in her home country as an advocate and writer who is dedicated to empowering women in sports. Without sports, specifically rowing, Nachazelova can't imagine a life anywhere close to the one she's experiencing.
"I would never have probably found my voice," she said, "because I would not even know that I should be looking for it."
Despite being a lightweight rower, she competed with the heavyweight crew at Washington State, driven by the influence of her coach and the supportive environment she found there.
"I went to Washington State because of the coach … and we are still friends. So I think that I chose well," she reflected.
While at Washington State, Nachazelova studied creative writing. Her time in the United States also introduced her to a new perspective on gender roles and personal freedom. Growing up in a patriarchal family, she always had seen her father as the dominant figure and her mother in a traditional homemaker role. However, her experience in the U.S. exposed her to strong, independent women. This was particularly true of her time living in Vermont with her partner, whom she met at Washington State.
"It was the first time I saw that, 'Maybe my life can be different than what I was accustomed to,'" she said.
After returning to the Czech Republic, Nachazelova faced significant challenges in her rowing career, including an incident in which the head coach at a national training camp threatened her. This pivotal moment led her to speak out against the injustices she faced, marking the beginning of her advocacy journey.
"I was literally standing in front of a mirror, and I'm like, 'Either I'll keep quiet, or I will go to the media,'" she said.
Nachazelova went to an investigative journalist, and the ensuing coverage led to the end of her rowing career in her country. It marked the beginning of her new venture, however, and her advocacy work gained momentum as she began writing about the struggles and triumphs of women in rowing. Her first book, "Women's Voices in Rowing," highlighted the stories of female athletes and received recognition from the International Olympic Committee for its contribution to diversity.
"I felt like I tapped into something," she said.
One particularly touching moment in Nachazelova's journey occurred at a regatta in Shanghai, where a female rower approached her after reading her book. The rower had discovered Nachazelova's work during the COVID-19 pandemic and was inspired by the stories to try rowing.
"She didn't know anything about rowing (before reading my book), and then there she is because she wanted to meet me. That's really cool," she said. "My partner almost started to cry because he would be supporting me with my writing, but he didn't realize the impact it can have."
This unexpected encounter highlighted the far-reaching influence of her advocacy efforts and reinforced her commitment to her mission.
Nachazelova then founded Czech Women in Sport, a nonprofit organization aimed at addressing the underrepresentation of women in coaching and executive roles in Czech sports. The foundation organizes conferences and educational programs to promote gender equity and empower women in sports.
This set the stage for Nachazelova's acceptance into the Global Sports Mentoring Program, which has furthered her mission. The professional development exchange program — led by the U.S. Department of State's Sports Diplomacy Division, espnW and the Center for Sport, Peace and Society at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville — aims to empower women through sports internationally. As a 2024 delegate to the NCAA national office, Nachazelova is gaining valuable insights and experiences that she plans to bring back to the Czech Republic to drive change.
"I would like to bring back definitely a deeper understanding of how the NCAA in 2024 works and operates," she said. "I just want to create an environment that just everybody feels as good as I feel here. It's kind of simple … but it takes time."
Nachazelova hopes to achieve significant progress in the Czech Republic through her work, aspiring to become the vice president of the Czech Olympic Committee and eventually the minister of sport. She thinks her experiences and insights can help break down societal barriers and support others facing similar challenges.
"Hopefully, I can help others, because I know that they are still struggling with the barriers that society throws at them," she said. "I'm just grateful that the sport provided me this much, and that's why I feel responsible to give back."
