Ged Wall had a US rowing scholarship lined up after school. Then he got into medical school at the University of Otago, and rowing had to find a new way to fit into his life rather than the other way around.
Last month, the Otago medical student represented New Zealand at the World University Rowing Championships in London, Ontario, teaming up with Alex Fletcher in the men's double sculls. It capped an unexpected next chapter for a rower who had once planned to take his talents to an American college programme.
Instead, Ged found a way to do both, studying medicine while training out of the Otago University Rowing Club and rowing at a high level. He reckons more young rowers and clubs should know this path exists.
"To potentially make the World University team is a pathway which more clubs and rowers need to be aware of," he says. "It is an option which allows people to continue to study in New Zealand and row at a high level and work towards a big goal."
Rowing runs in the family. His father Justin Wall is a well-known coach, and his sister Veronica is a New Zealand international. Ged took up the sport in Year Nine, drawn to the discipline and fitness it demanded, and won a silver medal in the U17/U18 grade at the South Island Secondary Schools Rowing Championships.
"From a young age I was often down at Twizel for regattas," he says. "Having a dad who was a coach was good, he made sure we trained hard and the sport gave me good discipline."
Now in his fourth year studying medicine, Ged largely trains alone. His days follow a punishing loop: drive to the club, row, bike to university, study, bike back to the club, row again, drive home.
"I train on the harbour, and the Otago University Rowing Club has good facilities," he says.
His rowing highlights have come after school, not during it. A former New Zealand U21 and Summer Performance Hub rower, Ged now competes for Waikato Rowing Club and was part of their gold medal-winning club eight at the New Zealand Rowing Championships at Lake Karāpiro earlier this year. That performance helped earn his World University Championships selection.
Selection brought a training programme from New Zealand World University Championships coach Alex Kennedy, another benefit Ged hadn't counted on.
For the 23-year-old, combining rowing with medicine has paid off in ways that go beyond results on the water. He credits the sport's structure and exercise with supporting his mental health and, in turn, his study.
But he's blunt about what it takes.
"I would say you need to fully commit. There is no use half-committing and not getting the results because it is not much fun when you are not doing very well.
"But it is important to have people around you that you trust and who support you in your efforts to achieve your goals."
In London, Ontario, Ged and Alex Fletcher finished fifth in the B Final of the men's double sculls, just ten seconds off the winners.
"It was a good boost, and we only finished 10 seconds off the winners, so it was not too disappointing," he says. "The best part was not necessarily competing in Canada. It was more about being given a pathway to continue to train, targeting an international event and become a better rower."
He's already looking ahead.
"I'll try and do this again next year and win selection for the 2027 World University Games," he says. "Every year there is either a World University Games or World University Championships, so there are great incentives available."
