Iva Boteva started rowing when she was 10 years old. Rowing runs in the family - both her parents used to be rowers. At the age of 13 she won her first medal in a single - bronze - at the Bulgarian National Championships. From there, she went on to achieve more than 6 Bulgarian National titles before the age of 18.
In 1997 at the Junior World Championship in Belgium, Iva was recruited to row in America for the University of Southern California.
With the help of a translator, the then barely-English speaking Boteva accepted the chance to come to California and row for USC.
For Iva "it was a great experience rowing for USC." She led her team to several victories including a win in the Cal Cup at the San Diego Crew Classic, as well as a win in the coxed four at the 1998 NCAA National Championships. On a individual level, Iva pushed to a World Record win at the 1998 CRASH-B World Indoor Rowing Championships, where she won the open women's race with a time of 6:37.9 at the age of 18.
Since graduating from USC in 2002, Boteva has turned to coaching, which she began as an assistant at her alma mater. Through coaching the novice women at USC Iva discovered a love for teaching and is currently involved with rowing instruction in several different areas. Aside from coaching the LionsRC Level B and C groups, Iva assists with the Marina Aquatic Center Junior Rowing team, teaches Indo-Row classes, and has also begun a successful business as a private coach. For more on Iva, check out her website, LARowingCoach.com.
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