Women's History Month Athlete Spotlight: Ulyssa Mata

In honor of Women’s History Month, we are excited to highlight Ulyssa Mata, a Team JL ambassador whose journey in rowing is deeply rooted in representation, perseverance, and advocacy. Inspired by Olympic rower Kenia Lechuga, Ulyssa set out to break barriers and create space for more diversity in the sport she loves. Although she has faced challenges and moments of doubt, Ulyssa continues to push forward to be the best version of herself. In this Q&A, Ulyssa shares how rowing has shaped her, the athletes who inspire her, and why representation in sports matters.

JL Racing: Can you share a bit about your journey into rowing and what inspired you to pursue this sport?

Ulyssa Mata: I started rowing in middle school. While I knew nothing about it, I remembered My mom showed me a video of Olympic rower Kenia Lechuga. I was so happy to see a Mexican rower in the Olympics as someone who grew up as the only Latina on my rowing team. From there, I made it my mission to help inspire other people like me to pursue this sport and advocate for the message of diversity and inclusion in the world of rowing.

JL Racing: Who are some female athletes that have inspired you throughout your career?

Ulyssa: Being a female athlete comes with a lot of opportunities to meet and be inspired by other female athletes. This past year, I was inspired by coxswain Sebastiana Lopez. I met them while training for Head of the Charles. I learned about their backstory and was immediately inspired their journey. "I know this will help me get there" is one quote that I resonated with heavily. For me, this quote meant helping me break the cycle and would lead me to become a first-generation student, rower, and much more. I look up to Sebas and hope to inspire many other female athletes as they inspired me.

JL Racing: In your opinion, what does Women's History Month mean to you as an athlete?

Ulyssa: Women's History Month is a time to recognize the strength, resilience, and achievements of the women who paved the way in sports and beyond. As an athlete, I’m inspired by the amazing women who broke barriers, demanded equality, and proved that women belong in every arena. It’s a reminder to keep pushing forward, not just for myself but for the next generation of female athletes. This month is about honoring those who paved the way and continuing to push for progress, both on and off the water.

JL Racing: How do you think sports like rowing empower women?

Ulyssa: Rowing is a sport that empowers women by building strength, resilience, and confidence. It demands both mental and physical toughness, teaching us to push past limits and work as a team. The sport fosters leadership and discipline, proving that women belong in every environment. Whether on the water or in life, rowing instills a mindset of perseverance and self-belief, helping women realize our full potential.

JL Racing: Have you faced any challenges as a female athlete, and how did you overcome them?

Ulyssa: As a female athlete, I experienced a lot of doubt from coaches and teammates. Being considered as just a number, it is easy to forget why I started rowing in the first place. I faced a lot of adversity, but the one thing that helped me overcome this was perseverance. I was doubted because they expected me to fail. But I reminded myself to push through and become someone that I was proud of. Now, I am happy to have experienced all that I did because it made me a faster rower and a stronger person.

JL Racing: What advice would you give to young girls who aspire to pursue rowing or other sports professionally?

Ulyssa: My advice to any young female athletes is to stay persistent. There will be times when your skills/abilities are doubted and you feel that everything is against you. But those moments will push you to become the strongest version of yourself.

JL Racing: Can you share a memorable moment or achievement in your rowing career that you're particularly proud of?

Ulyssa: My favorite moment in my rowing career was racing at Head of the Charles with Rowing in Color. This was a dream come true. I finally began to do that I always wanted to with rowing, which is to advocate for diversity in the sport. I raced with women like me to create a message bigger than ourselves. To this day, I am honored to continue to work with this amazing organization and emphasize all that they have done to help progress the sport.

JL Racing: As a part of Team JL and the rowing community, how do you hope to inspire other women?

Ulyssa: As a Mexican female rower, I want to inspire other women, especially those who don’t always see themselves represented in this sport, to know that they belong here. I hope to break barriers and encourage more women to step into the boat with confidence, knowing they are powerful and capable of everything.