OARS OF COURAGE

Bela Evers-Kapoor rows into history for water sustainability.

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UK-born Indian athlete Bela Evers-Kapoor has etched her name in history, becoming the first woman of Indian descent to successfully row across the Pacific Ocean. She was a core member of the Dutch Ocean Rowing Team GROHE Team Ocean, which completed a 39-day, 2,133-nautical-mile journey from Monterey Bay, California, to Kauai, Hawaii. The team set off on May 30 and triumphantly arrived on July 8, 2025.

Aboard their ocean rowing boat Ambrosia, Bela was the only woman on a three-person crew, showcasing extraordinary endurance, resilience, and leadership throughout one of the world's most punishing ocean crossings. The team braved towering 30-foot waves, relentless storms, and sustained winds reaching 40 knots — a true test of physical strength and mental fortitude.