Molly’s amazing Atlantic achievement!

When Molly Hemeter first came to the University of Lincoln in the Autumn of 2016, she’d never held a pair of oars before but was always interested in a new challenge. F

Fast forward to 2025 and Molly has just completed The World’s Toughest rowing competition across the Atlantic Ocean in a team of four, whilst raising thousands of pounds for an incredible charity.

Molly and her team from Atlantic Fusion completed the journey of 3,000 nautical miles from the Canary Islands to Antigua in late January 2025 as part of World’s Toughest Row. 

The Atlantic Fusion team is made up of Molly, Annika Israelsson, Dave Fassam and Bel Noyes.

Molly’s rowing journey started at the Societies Fair at the University of Lincoln in September 2016 when she decided to join the Rowing Club.

“Rowing isn’t really a thing where I come from, and there isn’t any history of being on the water in my family, but I really wanted to give it a try.

“So I went and had my trial at the University of Lincoln Rowing Club without going on the water at first. We tried-out on rowing machines to see if we had the fitness and the stamina to make it onto the water.

“I remember my first time on water, losing my co-ordination a little, but I learned quickly and it didn’t take me long to fall in love with it.”

Molly was part of the rowing club for the full three years at university, before joining a local club and then in 2021 she started preparing for the challenge of rowing the Atlantic Ocean, firstly by putting the team ‘Atlantic Fusion’ together. 

“I had continued rowing after university with Poplar Blackwall Rowing Club, which is where I met Annika. We have been good friends for years.

“I brought the idea up at a Christmas party and Annika agreed to join the team.

“The people at World’s Toughest Row put us in touch with Dave and Bel, who have been a perfect addition to Atlantic Fusion. We’ve all worked together so well since the very start of this project.”

Preparation for the Atlantic row started in 2021, with the team practicing for three years before setting off. Molly would take the train down to Poole Marina in Dorset and row all weekend, every weekend to make sure she was primed for the competition.

“At one point it was eat, sleep, training, repeat!

“And the physical stuff was just one part of it. There was a lot to cover financially, so we all spent a lot of time raising sponsorship and promoting ourselves across social media. 

“We are all raising money for Abbie’s Army – a charity close to all our hearts that raises awareness for untreatable child brain cancers. 

Abbie’s Army is a family-led UK charity, set up to help fund research into Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, which is the most aggressive brain tumour found in children.

“We set a target of £25,000 and are very happy to say we have completely smashed it and have actually raised over £60,000 for this wonderful charity.”

The competition started with an unexpected hurdle! A sandstorm whipping up from the Sahara Desert made life difficult for the team not long after setting off from the Canary Islands by covering the boat and their equipment in a layer of dust.

“Mother Nature didn’t do anything we expected during the journey.” Molly added.

“We were expecting the trade winds to blow the boat upwards towards the Caribbean but that didn’t happen. 

“Long range weather forecasts turned out to be inaccurate for most of the trip, and we had to monitor the weather on a day-to-day basis.”

“As the voyage went on, both mental and physical challenges kicked-in. Audial and visual hallucinations became commonplace, with most of us either seeing or hearing things that weren’t there!

The team had to show continual resilience, hard work and determination to complete the 3,000-mile journey, each taking a two-hour shift at rowing with very little sleep in between. There were times when it started to take its toll.

“My low point came at four days before the finish, and it was a mixture of fatigue and the feeling of knowing that we still had a considerable way to go.

“It really does test your mental strength, and your determination to get to the end of it.

“The team all wanted to arrive in Antigua during the day so that we could experience it fully and see our families there waiting for us.

“The feeling of completing the competition was amazing!”

Molly said during the final hours the thought of having a shower and seeing her family kept her going through the fatigue.

Graduates from the University of Lincoln become part of a global alumni community, and the dedicated Alumni Team help them stay in touch with the university for life. Many of our alumni have gone on to achieve great success all over the world. 

When speaking about Molly’s amazing achievements, Rachael Baxter, Head of Alumni and Stakeholder Relations said: “We’re incredibly proud of Molly and her amazing achievements, and it’s always great to hear what our alumni have been doing since completing their studies with us at the University of Lincoln.  

“Her journey also illustrates how sport and societies can be a valuable part of our students’ time at university and beyond, helping to belong to a part of a community that stays with people throughout their lives.”