Kiko’s Atlantic Rowing Challenge

If you partnered Kiko Matthews during a BMF class, you’d find that she’s one of those positive, spirited individuals who’d encourage you all the way and make the time pass quickly with her cheeky comments! Read on to see a film of her training for a huge challenge and find out how you can support her.

Now a green bib, it’s hard to believe that in July 2009, Kiko was diagnosed with life-threatening Cushing’s disease. Treatment included surgery to remove a pituitary tumour and left her barely strong enough to climb the stairs or get herself out of the bath. Then there were the side effects: diabetes, insomnia, memory loss, depression, muscle wastage, osteoporosis, and more.

Eight years on, Kiko still has regular check ups but she is determined to keep pushing her mind and body to see what they are now capable of. Having never rowed before, she’s set herself the challenge of becoming the fastest woman to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic single-handed and unsupported. Only a handful of women have ever successfully made the crossing solo. But Kiko also aims to do so in a world record time of 45 days – 11 days faster than the current record!

Her mission will be anything but plain sailing and weather conditions will play a crucial role. Kiko says: “I might encounter anything from a glassy calm to 40 foot waves, not to mention sleep deprivation, sea sickness, loneliness, flying fish in my face, muscle pains, blisters and potential hallucinations.”

But with a little help from BMF Richmond Park with her training and support from experts including Silver Olympic medallist and world record holding ocean rower Guin Batten, she’ll be up for the task, which takes place in January 2018 to make the most of the trade winds.

Kiko said: “I am not only having to get fit and learn all about life at sea, I have also had to learn to row. But I believe that nothing is too difficult to learn, given the right support. By the time I leave for Barbados, I will have spent up to 1000 hours on board, with my routine perfected and ready to tackle the abyss, alone!”

Kiko’s attitude, upbringing and resilience are also key, and she’s tackled daunting prospects before. Kiko says on her blog: “As a child I was always the one who was dared to do the dangerous stuff and was always trying to keep up, trying to impress, and be accepted by the big boys. I always wanted to be one of them and had some really bad short haircuts and short shorts!”

Growing up, Kiko and her three siblings had no TV at home, so she had to use her own creativity to have fun. She found school a breeze and loved learning – especially music, science, sports and chemistry. She joined the Army cadets and did the Duke of Edinburgh award because she enjoyed “getting involved, being cheeky and never doing anything to my best. I was never going to be a prefect (or perfect).”

She ended up doing a science degree and taught the subject for seven years. But her love of travel and adventure came to the fore. At 16, she won a place on a cadet leadership course in Canada and has since visited more than 43 countries, thriving on the uncertainty of what might happen next.

In 2005 she was in a team that drove from London to Cape Town to fundraise for spinal injury charities In 2012, her team drove to Uganda, where she stayed and worked. Then she moved to Zanzibar before returning to the UK. In 2015 she organised and led an expedition circumnavigating Ibiza by Stand-Up Paddle Board. She then set up her on SUP business, SUPKiko, in Richmond and co-founded a charity called The Big Stand. She is passionate about the environment, adventure and the outdoors.

Kiko said: “I look at my siblings and see something totally different. I’m not in the same place. No kids, no man, no house, a developing and changing career, no £100,000 salary, no mortgage, no ties, no swanky holidays, no stress to keep up, nothing to break and no car to scratch.

“Over the years, I have set myself goals that push my mental and physical boundaries. I have found the experiences that come with tackling the unknown and the potential for achievement far outweigh the possibility of failure. The outcome is irrelevant, I see challenge as an opportunity to develop skills and knowledge as well as resilience, confidence and relationships."

Good luck Kiko! If you'd like to support her, you can do so here.