Alana Sherman

Favorite Venue: Lake Rotsee, Lucerne, Switzerland

Favorite Boat Class: 2-

Alana began her rowing journey in 2018 with the Auckland University Rowing Club, making her competitive debut at the 2018 Aon New Zealand University National Championships. Despite starting rowing later than many of her peers, Alana quickly found success. In 2019, she competed at the New Zealand National Rowing Championships at Lake Ruataniwha as a novice, where she made her mark by securing silverware for Auckland Rowing Club.

In 2020, Alana earned her first National Title in the Women’s Club Pair with Auckland Rowing Club, marking a significant milestone in her blossoming rowing career. Her rapid progress in the sport was highlighted later that year when she trialed and was selected for the 2020/21 Auckland RPC squad after only two years of rowing. At the 2021 New Zealand National Rowing Championships, she competed in the Women’s Premier Draft Eight, winning a Bronze medal—her first in the premier category.

At the end of 2021, Alana transitioned to North Shore Rowing Club, where she continued to build on her success. The following year, she competed at the 2022 New Zealand National Rowing Championships, capturing another National Title, this time in the Women’s Senior Coxless Four.

Late 2022 saw Alana moving to Waikato for work and joining the Waikato Rowing Club. This move proved to be pivotal, as she had an outstanding season. Teaming up with pair partner Isla Blake, the duo consistently pushed the Elite Squad throughout the season, even managing to beat them at several regattas. Alana capped off a stellar 2023 season by winning two Premier National Titles at the New Zealand Rowing Championships, earning her first redcoats in the Women’s Premier Coxless Four and Premier Eight with Waikato Rowing Club.

Alana’s performances earned her a place in the 2023 Elite Women’s Sweep Squad, under the guidance of coach Matt Cameron. After racing her domestic season, Alana was then selected in the Women’s pair to compete at the 2023 World Rowing Championships with Kate Haines, together they won the C final.

2024 marked another pivotal year in Alana’s rowing career. She was again included in the Summer Squad, where she partnered with Kate Haines in the Women’s Pair. The duo competed at the Last Chance Regatta in Switzerland, successfully qualifying their boat for the Paris Olympics. In their Olympic debut, they faced a highly competitive field and placed 13th overall.

Alana Sherman had an outstanding 2024-2025 season, demonstrating resilience and determination despite undergoing surgery for a pre-existing injury in December. Her recovery did not hinder her dominance in the women’s sweep events. At the North Island Rowing Championships, she secured silver in the Women’s Pair and gold in the Women’s Four before going on to win both events at the National Championships.

Following a string of exceptional performances and an intense week of trials, Alana earned selection for the Women’s Four to compete at the World Cups in Varese, Italy, and Lucerne, Switzerland, in June. The crew delivered a strong World Cup series, winning bronze at World Cup II and placing fourth at World Cup I, despite setbacks from injury and illness during the campaign. Their ability to perform under pressure was a testament to their resilience and determination. In August, Alana trialed again to secure her place in the World Championship team. Impressing selectors, she once again earned her seat in the Women’s Four and also in the Mixed Eight. The Women’s Four placed Third in Shanghai this September, winning the bronze medal, with Alana stroking the boat and driving the crew to the podium. Alana then also stroked the Mixed eight to a Bronze medal on the final day of the regatta for the events debut in World Rowing. Her strength, consistency, and leadership continue to make her an invaluable asset to the New Zealand rowing squad.

The 2025–2026 domestic season highlighted Alana’s versatility as both a sweep rower and a sculler. At the North Island Club Championships, she won gold in the women’s four and pair, and claimed silver in the women’s single scull. She then went on to an outstanding performance at the National Championships, becoming National Champion in the women’s single scull as well as the women’s four.

These results, combined with her phenomenal international season in 2025, saw Alana named New Zealand Female Rower of the Year — an incredible achievement.

Alana then trialled for the 2026 World Cup team and was successfully selected in the women’s four. The Women’s Four had a very successful World Cup series where they won a bronze medal at World Cup I  in Seville, Spain and a silver medal at World Cup II in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. At the World Championship team confirmation trial the Women’s four was reselected and remained unchanged from the World Cup series crew. Alana was also selected into the Women’s Eight that will race for the first time this international season at the 2026 World Championships in Amsterdam.

Before embarking on her rowing career, Alana was a competitive distance runner. She was the 2013 Secondary School National Road Running Champion and the 2015 New Zealand 3000m Club Track National Champion. During her running career, she set multiple school records across a range of distances, including the 3000m, 1500m, 800m, and the steeplechase, underscoring her athletic versatility.

Outside of rowing, Alana graduated with a Doctor of Chiropractic from the New Zealand School of Chiropractic at the end of 2022. She is now a fully qualified chiropractor, working at King Country Chiropractic in the Waikato region. Alana balances her chiropractic career with her commitments to the New Zealand Elite Rowing Squad. She also shares a close bond with her twin sister, Natalie Sherman, who is a competitive water polo player.