row2k Features
Interview
George Washington's Trofym Anderson
February 11, 2014
Erik Dresser, row2k.com

Anderson at the London Olympics

This week's row2k Interview is with George Washington senior rower Trofym Anderson. Anderson, a Canadian is currently at the Sochi Olympics as part of his degree and has raced on the Canadian Junior and U23 squads.

row2k - How did you get your start in rowing and how did you find your way to George Washington?
Trofym Anderson - I began rowing in the fall of grade 9. At the time I went to a large high school with a small rowing team in Welland, ON and really didn't know what I was getting myself into. That year was typical of a first year high school rower in that I was just learning the ropes of training and rowing. At the end of the year I decided I enjoyed it and continued on with my local club, South Niagara Rowing Club, in the summer and fall. As the club season brought together numerous local high schools, I was fortunate to row with guys from E.L Crossley High School (ELC). With ELC being such a dominant school in rowing, the experience was eye opening and made me really enjoy the sport. I continued rowing through grade 10 until ultimately taking a leap between the summer of grade 10 and 11 and transferring to ELC. The next 2 years were an incredible experience. The determination and work ethic I learned by training with the guys and coaches was a game changer and has been able to put me where I am today.

Ending up at George Washington was definitely far from the typical recruiting process. I decided late fall of my senior year that I wanted to look at schools in the USA and began prepping for the SATs and subject tests. Prior to doing so I already had some schools in mind, none of which were GW. As months went on and I continued to see some great results at The Head of The Charles and Ontario Erg Champs, I began being less interested in the schools I originally had in mind in the USA. It was now January of my senior spring that I decided I was going to stay in Canada for university and I was happy with my choice. It wasn't until May that I went for an official visit at GW. I really enjoyed the campus, renovations to the athletic center, and guys on the team. Afterwards I knew GW was right for me. Today, I've been extremely happy with the choice I made.

row2k - What was your experience like racing in the CAN U23 M4+ this past summer?
Trofym Anderson - After racing in the JM8+ back at the 2010 Worlds in Racice CZ, I realized how incredible it was to be racing on an international stage. Thus, being back at it again this summer was awesome. It was also a testament to myself for all the hard work I've put in over the last 3 years to make the team again. Training alongside the senior team was an educating and fun experience. I learned a lot about racing and even more about training. Once in Austria, the experience was unforgettable. Our pre-worlds camp was great and we were amped to get racing. Not knowing what to expect going into the heats, we were confident we could perform. Unfortunately we missed the direct qualifier to the A-Final and instead headed to the reps.

We re-strategized and raced the rep a little more conservatively while still trying to make sure we stuck with the pack. In the last 250m we were in third and needed top 2 to make the A-Final. Having just missed the A-Final in 2010 by less than a second, I knew the feeling of missing out and how disappointed I was for the last 3 years. I can strongly recall the rep, looking over and seeing the red buoys and the stern of GB. All I could think about was not making the A-Final. We put one last push on and were able to narrowly beat out GB to be top 2. That was huge for us and me personally. Finally making an A-Final at a world champs. What might not seem important or impressive to some, was to me a big milestone in my rowing career. Into the A-Final we went with scorching conditions. Finished 5th overall but I wasn't upset. With another year of U23 eligibility, and the immense training and racing knowledge I gained, I couldn't have asked for a better experience.

row2k - You were in London for the Olympics and are heading to Sochi this February, how did that come about and what was one of your most memorable experiences in London?
Trofym Anderson - During the 2006 Torino Games is when I became very interested in the Olympics. When coming to GW I decided to study business but didn't know what to concentrate in. Soon after my freshman year I discovered there was a sports management concentration and a professor who had been to the last 13 Olympics. That immediately caught my attention and I decided to to setup a meeting with her. I later found out that not only does the professor attend the Games but she takes a class with her! The class consists of researching the Games, attending events, meeting with sponsors like VISA, GE, P&G and meeting IOC executives. I quickly applied to the class and next thing I knew I was off to London.

My most memorable moment while there was definitely being at Eton Dorney and watching the Canadian Men's 8+ move through GB right at the end to take silver. I guess most athletes have someone they look up to in their sport and for me that's a rower from Canada named Rob Gibson. He was in that 8+ and seeing him succeed was inspiring and motivational to me. After truly enjoying my experience in London, I knew that working with the IOC and Canadian Olympic Committee was something I wanted to do one day. I then decided to stay at GW for another year to complete my Masters in Sports Management which I plan to finish next spring. Thus, I will be heading back to Sochi to further conduct more research and of course see the Games.

row2k - Do you have plans to keep training while in Sochi?
Trofym Anderson - Hahaha, well the days are quite long. We typically wake up at 7am and then have meetings lasting the entire day. We'll either meet with an IOC executive or tour something like USA House or the USA Training Center and all of that typically lasts until the evening. From there we attend different hospitality events and of course actual sporting events. So our time outside of our daily agenda is very limited. Plus, with recent events occurring in Russia involving terrorist threats, I don't think I want to be running around the city alone. I'm really hoping the hotel has a cardio room where I can pound out some work. When I called back in September, they said they'd look into getting an erg, but who knows.

row2k - What do you like most about the sport of rowing?
Trofym Anderson - I like the fact that you can quantify your training to see improvements. If I want to go faster, I simply train harder and longer, of course while still working on my technique on the water. I honestly look forward to the winter training sessions though. I love putting in the hours on the erg and of course in the weight room (always making sure my aesthetics, ie: biceps, triceps and chest, are taken care of). The lower I can keep my splits and the better HR's I see, the better I know I can perform when I'm in the starting gates. I also love the fact that a race typically comes down to sheer pain, and who can put themselves in more pain for longer.

row2k - What has been your most memorable race so far and why?
Trofym Anderson - My most memorable race would definitely be winning the Men's 8+ at the 2009 Stotesbury Cup. Leading up to it I had never, in my at the time 3 years of rowing, won a race before believe it or not. And being my first season with ELC, I had no idea what to expect. Our coaches put a ton of emphasis on the race and how serious it was. When we came out of the TT only a second off first, I couldn't believe it. It was the first time I was actually doing well. However they quickly assured us that it didn't matter and that it'd all come down to the final. To this day I remember walking the boat down to the launch dock for the final and literally feeling like I was going to war and most likely going to die. I don't think I've ever been so scared for a race, I actually thought I was going to cry.

Well, it ended up being an incredible race. With 750m in we were in a clear 2nd place and I remember thinking how much we let down our coaches and ourselves. Then out of nowhere I remember the rate being called up and just trying my hardest to win the race. When we won, it was incredible. Not just because we had won, but knowing we showed our coaches we could do it, and were the first Canadian crew since I think Ridley in 1972, was just an amazing feeling. I wouldn't have wanted to win with any other 8 people. The guys in the boat were all guys I cared a lot about and all very talented. For a heavyweight boat, we actually only had 4 heavyweights, the rest were lightweight. I'll never forget that race as that's where it all began, me knowing that if I put the work in, success would come.

row2k - How has this season gone, and what are your goals for the spring?
Trofym Anderson - The season has been going great. Since coming to GW the quality of recruits has increased by over 100%. We have guys coming in now who are fast, strong AND have the race experience. And we don't just have 1, we have multiple. I'd also say this has been my most effective training season in my 8 years of rowing. Taking the knowledge I learned this summer and results from things like lactate testing, I've been able to train in my proper zones and see great results. Even I can't believe it at times. Goal for the spring is to of course do better than last year at IRA's. I don't think last year was a bad race season but instead just inconsistent. When we sat down as a team this past August, I said our word this year needs to be consistency, in everything we do. I believe if we can have consistently strong races leading up to IRA's, we'll have a good shot at placing better than last year.

row2k - What are you studying at George Washington and do you have any plans yet for after college?
Trofym Anderson - I'm studying Business with a concentration in Sports Management and International Business. I'll be graduating from my undergrad this spring and then staying for another year to complete my Masters in Sports Management. I plan to still train alongside the team next year and keep up the work. From there I hope to get back to Canada and either continue rowing at a University on the west coast or maybe be privileged enough to one day get an invite to the Victoria Training Center. Post rowing once I've retired, whenever that may be, I hope to come back to the USA and be a head coach of a women's rowing program. I've done some research and think I'd really like to coach at Southern Methodist University. After that, probably look into law school back in Canada. All part of a big plan and all in due time. For now I'm just focused on crushing the spring, and getting back in Canada to help win us a medal this summer in Varese.

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