1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?
I started boarding school in 2008 at Emma Willard School and being six feet tall I was an easy target for the seniors to recruit for the novice team. That winter I played basketball and then hopped on the erg to tryout for crew the week before we got on the water. There was nothing that memorable from that practice but I remember falling in love with the sport as soon as I got on the water. I remember my first on-the-water practice was in March, there was still snow on the ground and the Hudson River's icebergs had just melted. I remember being terrified, but I guess the excitement of something new and on the water brought me back every day.
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?
I initially fell in love with the sport during my junior year of boarding school when my varsity four won New York Scholastic State Championships by just a bowball. I think this race showed that passion and trust within a boat can beat any talent. This is when I knew I didn't want to stop rowing after boarding school. I knew that my height helped me along the way in high school but I would have to work really hard to stand out in college. So when I came to Ithaca College in fall of 2012 a new side of competitiveness was shown and I stepped up to the plate. Being in the first varsity boat my freshman year of college was when I realised I might not be too bad at rowing, and so this is when I started putting the extra 1% of dedication, competitiveness and drive into the sport. This then led me to believing that I could qualify for the Olympics when me and my doubles partner Jennie Peterson came fourth at the Small Boat Championships this past fall.
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice?
Best race: New York State Collegiate Championships 2016-the varsity 8 that I had been in for the past four years always placed second, and so winning the championships this spring tied my college rowing career together. It was a great race where we jumped out in front in the first 500 m and just kept pushing past the pack.
Best practice: Prerace row-This past spring season the first varsity eight adopted the "prerace row"? that some D1 schools do. Leaving the dock on this March morning it was cold, but nothing new for Ithaca. As we were rowing there was a huge snow storm that covered everything with a blanket of fresh powder. It was one of those rows that can be seen as miserably cold, but it felt like we were rowing in a snowglobe.
4. Best/Anything you've done in the sport no one knows about?
I am making history for The Bahamas! Not only am I the first rower to be representing The Bahamas but I will be the first female rower from The Bahamas to ever row internationally.
5. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
I consider myself a young rower compared to those who will also be competing in the Olympics. But if I were to give any advice it would be take in every moment and aspect of this sport. There are not many times in your life where you will feel so connected to the people around you (your team) because of the experiences you have been through. Enjoy the burn during a 2k, the sunrise during 5am practices or the victory after winning a race by a bowball. Take in and learn from every moment because this sport shows you your worst self, but also your best.
Hometown: Nassau, Bahamas High School: Emma Willard
High School: Morley is a graduate of the Emma Willard School where she earned three varsity letters in crew. She was a tri-captain her senior year, and also earned varsity letters in soccer and cross country.
Personal: Emily is an integrated marketing and communications major and is the daughter of David and Susan Morley.
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