Ella Barry
Photo by: © row2k Media
Ella Barry '25: Pushing the Limits
May 14, 2025 | Women's Rowing - Open
It wasn't painful, but Ella Barry's arm was noticeably swollen.
It was October of 2024 and a few days before the Head of the Charles, one of the biggest regattas in the country.
Barry went to the hospital and found out she had a blood clot in her clavicle. It was diagnosed as Thoracic Outlet Syndrome where her first rib was impinging on a vein which caused the clot.
Barry had the surgery two and half weeks later and was rowing six weeks after that.
"I'm very grateful for Coach Dauphiny's guidance through the process," said Barry. "She facilitated communication between some of the best doctors and me. I got to go a doctor that had done treatment for this surgery on Olympic rowers. My mom was also very helpful as she was very aggressive in getting me to appointments."
Marc Nowak, a physical therapist off campus, was very important in Barry's recovery. Barry saw him twice a week immediately after her surgery.
"I was always pushing my limits with what I could do," said the two-time Ivy gold medalist. "I love being with my team, and I love rowing. As someone who had not been injured before, and had not taken any time off the sport, I really didn't enjoy being out."
Loving rowing was not something on Barry's radar as she started high school. She was into sports such as field hockey, running, hockey, basketball, but did not have a spring sport to play. Barry took advice from her friend to try rowing, and it changed her.
"I loved being on the water first," said the two-time CRCA Scholar Athlete. "I like the intensity of the sport and that's what made it fun for me."
Barry started rowing in the single scull and by 2019 had already won the U19 event at the USRowing National Championships and rowed at the Head of the Charles.
Going from trying out the sport for the first time to rowing on the international stage so quickly is a massive jump in a short period of time.
"I was so excited every day to go to practice to see my marginal improvements when I rowed against other people," said Barry about her meteoric rise. "It's a love for the intensity and finding joy in the sport."
When going through the recruiting process, it was the visit to campus that really sold Barry on Princeton.
"I'll never forget when Coach Dauphiny came out of the boathouse and was so excited to see me," said Barry. "I was young and full developed as a rower. To have such excitement from a head coach was a pretty remarkable thing."
There was an adjustment for Barry coming to Princeton. She had to learn how to sweep after most of her time had been spent as a sculler. She went back and forth between first and second varsity, helping the 2V to fifth at the NCAA Championships.
In 2023, Barry was on the first varsity that did not lose in the regular season, the first time that boat had done that since 2019. One of the signature moments of the 2023 campaign was the first varsity defeating No. 1 Texas at Lake Carnegie, ending the Longhorns' 22-race winning streak.
That boat would go on to win gold at the Ivy League Championships, helping the program to its fourth straight Ivy crown and third consecutive team title. Barry and the 1V won bronze at the NCAA Rowing Championships a few weeks later, leading to the team placing third overall. She finished off the summer rowing at the Henley Royal Regatta.
"I was so grateful to be in that boat," said Barry about the 2023 first varsity. "I was just going as hard as possible, pushing new limits because I wanted to be in that boat. The thing about rowing is that you bond with your team and boat because you go through these experiences together."
One of the great things about the Shea Rowing Center is that there are rowers from around the world. It's a true melting pot of cultures for Princeton's campus and it opened Barry to new things.
"It has definitely expanded my world," said Barry. "It is a unique opportunity that I am so grateful to have had here because I didn't really know many people from other countries growing up."
There was also another addition to the boathouse in 2024 that was very close to home for Barry. Her sister, Cate, joined the women's lightweight team.
"I was praying that Cate would come to Princeton because she is my best friend," said the older Barry. "To have her here the past two years has been a highlight of my college experience and to see her every day has been so much fun."
The Barry sisters had similar rowing career starts. Cate started rowing during the COVID-19 pandemic, erging in the basement with Ella. Within two years, she had won first place at the Head of the Charles in the single scull.
Once the Barrys got started in rowing, both went through fast rises through the ranks.
Both Barrys rowed on their team's respective first varsities last season. Ella helped her squad earn another Ivy League championship and fourth place at NCAAs. Cate led the lightweight team to its fourth consecutive IRA gold medal and third straight IRA Commissioner's Cup.
Ella has gone back and forth between the 1V and 2V this season. The eldest Barry has three medals during her time at Princeton and as she looks back on her time with the Tigers, she's appreciative of the memories with her teammates.
"It's amazing to get medals," said Barry. "They are so wonderful, but what really motivates me are my teammates. I'm not sentimental on the actual physical awards, but the memories and the bonds with people. Some of the most fun memories are the moment when you finish the race and your whole boat is so tired, but you reach out to the person in front or behind you. It's a moment of connecting with each other."
Barry won't be going far when she graduates. She's going to be a paralegal in New York. However, before that, Barry and the Tigers will row for another Ivy title at Cooper River this weekend.
It was October of 2024 and a few days before the Head of the Charles, one of the biggest regattas in the country.
Barry went to the hospital and found out she had a blood clot in her clavicle. It was diagnosed as Thoracic Outlet Syndrome where her first rib was impinging on a vein which caused the clot.
Barry had the surgery two and half weeks later and was rowing six weeks after that.
"I'm very grateful for Coach Dauphiny's guidance through the process," said Barry. "She facilitated communication between some of the best doctors and me. I got to go a doctor that had done treatment for this surgery on Olympic rowers. My mom was also very helpful as she was very aggressive in getting me to appointments."
Marc Nowak, a physical therapist off campus, was very important in Barry's recovery. Barry saw him twice a week immediately after her surgery.
"I was always pushing my limits with what I could do," said the two-time Ivy gold medalist. "I love being with my team, and I love rowing. As someone who had not been injured before, and had not taken any time off the sport, I really didn't enjoy being out."
Loving rowing was not something on Barry's radar as she started high school. She was into sports such as field hockey, running, hockey, basketball, but did not have a spring sport to play. Barry took advice from her friend to try rowing, and it changed her.
"I loved being on the water first," said the two-time CRCA Scholar Athlete. "I like the intensity of the sport and that's what made it fun for me."
Barry started rowing in the single scull and by 2019 had already won the U19 event at the USRowing National Championships and rowed at the Head of the Charles.
Going from trying out the sport for the first time to rowing on the international stage so quickly is a massive jump in a short period of time.
"I was so excited every day to go to practice to see my marginal improvements when I rowed against other people," said Barry about her meteoric rise. "It's a love for the intensity and finding joy in the sport."
When going through the recruiting process, it was the visit to campus that really sold Barry on Princeton.
"I'll never forget when Coach Dauphiny came out of the boathouse and was so excited to see me," said Barry. "I was young and full developed as a rower. To have such excitement from a head coach was a pretty remarkable thing."
There was an adjustment for Barry coming to Princeton. She had to learn how to sweep after most of her time had been spent as a sculler. She went back and forth between first and second varsity, helping the 2V to fifth at the NCAA Championships.
In 2023, Barry was on the first varsity that did not lose in the regular season, the first time that boat had done that since 2019. One of the signature moments of the 2023 campaign was the first varsity defeating No. 1 Texas at Lake Carnegie, ending the Longhorns' 22-race winning streak.
That boat would go on to win gold at the Ivy League Championships, helping the program to its fourth straight Ivy crown and third consecutive team title. Barry and the 1V won bronze at the NCAA Rowing Championships a few weeks later, leading to the team placing third overall. She finished off the summer rowing at the Henley Royal Regatta.
"I was so grateful to be in that boat," said Barry about the 2023 first varsity. "I was just going as hard as possible, pushing new limits because I wanted to be in that boat. The thing about rowing is that you bond with your team and boat because you go through these experiences together."
One of the great things about the Shea Rowing Center is that there are rowers from around the world. It's a true melting pot of cultures for Princeton's campus and it opened Barry to new things.
"It has definitely expanded my world," said Barry. "It is a unique opportunity that I am so grateful to have had here because I didn't really know many people from other countries growing up."
There was also another addition to the boathouse in 2024 that was very close to home for Barry. Her sister, Cate, joined the women's lightweight team.
"I was praying that Cate would come to Princeton because she is my best friend," said the older Barry. "To have her here the past two years has been a highlight of my college experience and to see her every day has been so much fun."
The Barry sisters had similar rowing career starts. Cate started rowing during the COVID-19 pandemic, erging in the basement with Ella. Within two years, she had won first place at the Head of the Charles in the single scull.
Once the Barrys got started in rowing, both went through fast rises through the ranks.
Both Barrys rowed on their team's respective first varsities last season. Ella helped her squad earn another Ivy League championship and fourth place at NCAAs. Cate led the lightweight team to its fourth consecutive IRA gold medal and third straight IRA Commissioner's Cup.
Ella has gone back and forth between the 1V and 2V this season. The eldest Barry has three medals during her time at Princeton and as she looks back on her time with the Tigers, she's appreciative of the memories with her teammates.
"It's amazing to get medals," said Barry. "They are so wonderful, but what really motivates me are my teammates. I'm not sentimental on the actual physical awards, but the memories and the bonds with people. Some of the most fun memories are the moment when you finish the race and your whole boat is so tired, but you reach out to the person in front or behind you. It's a moment of connecting with each other."
Barry won't be going far when she graduates. She's going to be a paralegal in New York. However, before that, Barry and the Tigers will row for another Ivy title at Cooper River this weekend.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Rowing - Open
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