This week's row2k interview is with 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Dan Walsh from the USA M8+. We chat with Dan about the 2011 men's eight, racing in the Olympics, starting up a business, and more.

row2k: The men's eight finished 4th at World Cup III, how did that Henley/Lucerne trip go for the crew?
Dan Walsh: The World Cup /Henley trip was viewed as a positive trip. We drew the Germans both at Henley and the heat in Lucerne, and were able to keep contact with them in both races. It showed that the boat had similar speed to the rest of the international field, which gave us some confidence going into the final of Lucerne. It was tough to swallow being walked through in the last 300 meters of the race but the result was still encouraging heading into Worlds selection.

How was the training between Lucerne and leaving for Europe?
Dan Walsh: Training went well leading up to traveling overseas. The team went through some more selection but the lineup stayed the same from the previous trip. We had the 4- and 4x to train with and the boat was showing encouraging speed based off of percentage charts. We left Chula Vista feeling we could improve on our results in Lucerne.

How was the boat moving in Munich and Bled prior to the start of the regatta?
Dan Walsh: The Munich training camp was successful and our arrival in Bled was pretty seamless. We had all the pieces in place to be successful at Worlds. Practices went well, pieces were on pace, and morale was good.

What was the team's response like following the semifinal and final?
Dan Walsh: After the semifinal there was disappointment and some confusion. We knew going into our semi it was going to be a tough race but I am not sure we all understood that the qualifier regatta is desperate race after desperate race. The group seemed to handle everything professionally and we picked ourselves up fairly quickly to get to work and race for the last qualifier spot. As we all know now that didn’t happen. The B Final did not go well at all, and the worst part is there is nothing specific that anyone seemed to pinpoint as the problem. I was pretty angry at our result from worlds and frustrated that we didn’t qualify the boat. In the end we need to pick ourselves up by the bootstraps and get ready for the challenge of going to the Olympic Qualifier.

How is the team now approaching qualification for 2012?
Dan Walsh: The approach is very similar to any other Olympic year the difference is our timeline has shortened. The 4- is our priority going into the Games and the goal is to put the best athletes in that boat to get it to the podium. With that said we are not abandoning the eight it is still considered a priority boat. I know we have the right personnel to create a fast eight, qualify, and make a push for the medals. The eight has always been a cornerstone boat of our program and we will continue to fight to make it fast. The qualification route is a tough one but it isn’t one without hope.

What lessons have you been able to draw from your experiences in 2003-04 and 2007-08 as you prepare for London?
Dan Walsh: The biggest lesson when getting ready for the Olympics is to keep it simple. We have to get fitter, stronger, and row better whether it is to qualify or win. I won't deny that the Olympic year has different challenges and higher stakes but keeping an even keel (pun intended) is most important. Don’t let the highs get too high or the lows too low.

Which race in your past is the most memorable and why?
Dan Walsh: After 20 years of rowing and 10 years on the National team it's tough to say which is the most memorable. The one that was the most influential was our heat in Beijing because our resolve was tested with that race. We were heading into that race trying to win gold again; we had 3 guys returning from the Athens boat, and training was going well. We were all set to win the heat but the Brits had a different idea and hammered us with a big move in the second 500. We never recovered from that and they beat us by over four seconds. Instead of letting it unravel us for the rest of the Games we came together, rallied, and won the rep. That gave us a chance to race for the medals and it was up to us rise to the challenge. We all know that we didn’t win but we were able to fight from 6th to 3rd and lost to the Brits by 0.2 seconds instead of four. Of course I wanted to win, and silver is better than bronze, but an Olympic medal is an Olympic medal. The lessons I learned from the racing are nothing is predetermined and it's never too late to improve.

Can you talk a little bit about your involvement with the National Rowing Foundation as a Shields Fellow?
Dan Walsh: Being a Shields Fellow has opened my eyes to what a strong community the US National team is. The NRF is a great community of USRowing Alumni who believe in the next generation of athletes. It is an amazing non-profit to work for because you are asking a successful group of people to continually help the current athletes have a shot at winning an Olympic medal. It has been incredible to hear the stories of these past athletes and see how much has changed and how much has stayed the same over the years.

You founded Engine Room Fitness with former USA teammate Luke Walton, tell us about it and how did the company come together?
Dan Walsh: Engine Room Fitness came together almost by accident. When I decided to train for London, I knew I had to do something else besides just train this quadrennial. I also knew that I wanted to spend more time at the Olympic Training Center here in Chula Vista, so I received permission to become a resident athlete and started rowing again in January of 2009. Luke had already moved back to San Diego after he finished rowing at Cambridge and was now coaching triathlon. We were hanging out one night and he asked me to help develop a core strengthening class for his triathlon group. I did and it was well received and we started to get a weekly following. I was looking for a job that would be flexible with training and was having zero luck since that was the same time the economy was at its low point. So Luke and I decided to make our own jobs and started Engine Room Fitness or E.R.F. for short. We have now been open for two years and are still pushing forward.

How much are you able to work on your business while training?
Dan Walsh: Not much at all. Luke and I both knew that as London got closer I would become more and more of a ghost around the gym. I know that for me personally and from my own experiences I need to commit to just the Olympics to give myself just the chance to be part of a winning crew. If I try and do too many other things it takes away from my focus and the overall goal of hearing that national anthem in London. Luke has really carried the weight of the company since this past March and it helps to have a partner who knows what is required to be an Olympian. That said he still gives me a hard time about being a pain in the butt partner.