With Lake Natoma only a two-minute drive from her house, it was a given that Rio alum Hannah Broadland would become a professional rower.

Broadland is a Rio graduate of 2017 and former Capital Crew rower starting in 2013.

She graduated from San Diego State University in 2021 with her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Media Studies, and her graduate degree Liberal Studies: Consciousness Development in Women and Children.

“I fell in love with rowing because of my teammates, and because it was the only sport I could do where I could be in a natural outdoor environment everyday: the beautiful Lake Natoma,” Broadland said. “Lake Natoma was only a two-minute drive from my house, and one of my favorite places.”

When she is on her rowing schedule, she’ll usually wake up at 5:45 a.m. to begin her job as a Regatta Coordinator for the San Diego Crew Classic.

Outside of work and rowing, she loves to surf, skate, hang out with friends and go to music events. She loves making jewelry and beading out of the shells she collects from the ocean.

Broadland loved the school environment and teachers at Rio.

“I thought it was an awesome public school with lots of resources and unique classes,” Broadland said.

Her most memorable experience from Rio was an informal parkour club that she started with her two best friends. Broadland also was a T.A. for a ceramics class during her senior year, which had a group of Special Education students.

“I loved spending time with all of them,” she said. “They were full of laughs and we all got along great.”

Broadland most enjoys going on adventures with her friends and family.

“For the rest of my life, I just want to be outside, be active and be around adventurous, fun-loving people.”

You would never think someone like Hannah Broadland would be so in-depth and interesting, but she’s here to prove you wrong.