1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?
I was quite tall and had been a decent swimmer so my Dad suggested I give rowing a try and I ended up loving it. I don't have any specific memories from my first practice.
2. Was there a practice, race or other event when you fell in love with the sport, or when you knew you might not be too bad at rowing? When you thought you could make the national team?
My first taste of winning was at the Philadelphia cities regatta my novice year. I already knew I wanted to keep rowing but that certainly solidified it for me. Although I'm not sure I would say I knew I might not be too bad at rowing at that point. The following spring when I made the varsity 4+ and won nationals was my first real sense that I might be okay at this.
After college I spent a year training at riverside and watched my splits drop pretty dramatically. When I started pulling times that I was proud of that's when I thought I could make the national team.
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice?
Best race: Winning the Ivy League Championship in 2012. We were complete underdogs and I'll never forget that moment.
Worst race: Losing in the final of Women's Henley of 2012.
Best practice: I remember it was our last practice of spring break and we were doing racing pieces in the basin in mixed lineups while it was 40 degrees and pouring rain. This could normally be pretty unpleasant but I remember my boat finding an amazing energy and we proceeded to win the pieces and take full advantage of appreciating three boat across racing under such a beautiful skyline.
Worst practice: there were some pretty windy days this year and I remember the only stretch of rowable water was in front of our boathouse so I did my pieces broken up on a 1200m stretch with 35mph gusts and that wasn't too pleasant.
4. Best/Anything you've done in the sport no one knows about?
I pr'd on a 2k my senior year of college a week after having surgery on my pelvic bone (I had an anyeursmal bone cyst and lots of surgeries). I didn't go into the piece planning to do so and stayed pretty controlled for the first 1500m but when I got to 500m to go I decided to go crazy and see if I might be able to sprint my way into a pr.
5. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
You're not alone! I think the media has enabled a lot of elite athletes to make their lives look quite perfect (obviously with a lot of hard work thrown in) but it doesn't show the many breakdowns that occurred along the way. Completing an MBA and training alone has made this year one of the hardest in my life. There were a lot of tears involved along the way and so I hope any young rower knows they're not alone when it gets tough and that everyone faces the same challenges no matter the level.
My Highlights: Wins—Women’s Henley in the Elite 8+ for Oxford (2015); the Boat Race for Oxford (2015); the Ivy League Championship for Harvard in the Varsity 8+ (2012). Named College Rowing Coaches Association Scholar Athlete (2012); received both the OIL Group and Horseshoe Group scholarships this year.
How I Got Started: I was tall and athletic with absolutely no hand-eye coordination, so it was suggested I try rowing while at boarding school in the US.
How I Train: I train in a single with the Oxford Women’s University team. Every week we do two 11/2 to 2-hour weights sessions, two to three land training sessions, and six to seven sessions rowing on the water. I’m currently completing my MBA at Oxford so I have eight-plus hours of class a day as well.
My Diet: I eat lots of vegetables and whole grains with some meat, fish, eggs and yoghurt. I always treat myself to some dark chocolate or ice cream, though, and occasionally a burger and fries with friends.
How I Got Inspired: After competing in the first women’s boat race on the tideway last year I realised the significance and what it meant to many Bermudians. I knew that Bermuda would be behind me if I was to compete at the Olympics.
My Sports Heroes: My dad became my sporting hero when he took me for runs before school when I was 12. He would help me with my technique and then we’d sprint the last hundred metres home. That sprint (which I never won) and his guidance have carried me through my entire sporting career.
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