She's now the fastest woman to row across the Atlantic: 'Girls are capable of anything'

Victoria Evans is making headlines for smashing a world record. The London-based lawyer is now the fastest woman to ever row solo across the Atlantic in an effort to "show women and girls anything is possible." After spending 40 days at sea, she rowed into Barbados on March 24 aboard her 22-foot-long rowing boat. She began her journey in the Canary Islands on February 11. She had no idea she would slash the world record by nine whole days. As part of the arduous journey, Evans also raised funds for the charity Women in Sport, Good News Network reports. 

At the finish line in Barbados, she was greeted by her friends and family who had traveled all the way from the United Kingdom in order to support her. She said after taking the massive win, "Taking on this epic challenge was about driving positive change, inspiring others and using the achievement as a platform to progress the narrative about women in sport." All in all, Evans rowed 2,559 nautical miles in a world-record time of 40 days and 19 hours. She successfully managed to surpass the previous record of 49 days and 7 hours.

To break the world record, Evans had to row 12 to 14 hours a day to become the fastest of the 11 women (only) who were able to cross the Atlantic from east to west. Prior to this competition, the lawyer had never rowed a day in her life. Therefore, she spent three years training for the challenge. During this time, she gained all the requisite qualifications and prepared to become seaworthy. "A solo expedition is about so much more than one person," Evans noted. "Completing the crossing is just the start of this work… I can use this experience to show that we [girls and women] are capable of anything."

In addition to breaking the world record, the rower also managed to raise £24,000 (approximately $31,550) for Women in Sport. This is a charity based in the United Kingdom that aims to give every woman and girl the chance to transformational and lifelong benefits of sport. The CEO of Women in Sport, Stephanie Hilborne, stated, "How mind-boggling to be at sea with sharks and dolphins for company and to overcome such massive obstacles to reach the finish line?"

According to the charity, sports have the power to change lives. Unfortunately, women and girls continue to miss out on participation. In the United Kingdom alone, 1.5 million less women play sport each week than men, and only 32 percent of women and girls play sport at least once a month. Their website affirms, "Whilst many campaigns seek to increase engagement, it’s necessary to tackle the structure of sport as an industry, and the culture surrounding sport, to truly effect change." Therefore, Women in Sport use the insights they gain from comprehensive research to drive change through campaigns and partnerships. The money Evans raised will thus be used to fund an insight pack to disseminate vital research; fund a campaign about the inequalities that exist within the culture of sport; and build a sports program in disadvantaged communities across the country.