1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?
Michigan "spring" is technically still mitten weather, and rowing pre-season conditioning. I was playing club volleyball at the time, but my sister was on the rowing team and suggested I try it out. After the running(/ice skating) outside for a couple of weeks, I decided to play volleyball. That summer, I picked up an oar at Ann Arbor Rowing Club. College rower, Sarah Trowbridge (2012 Olympian), was one of the coaches. Four years later, we were training together in Poland at Worlds (she was in the quad and I was a spare).
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 thought I could make the national team about 3 days after I made the national team. Racing in New Zealand for Worlds was amazing. My professors were so understanding while I took classes from afar and had a part-time job. My parents flew over to watch me race. Family is the reason anything I do is possible. Love you mom and dad!
Making the (2007) Junior team was a blast; gear day was Christmas in July and then we got to race on the Olympic course and warm it up for Olympians! Felice and I were bow pair on the 8+. The tallest, lankiest bow pair I've ever seen.
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice?
We came to the docks after winning the Varsity 8+ race at NCAA's in 2009, and our team swarmed and sank the dock, cheering and hugging everyone... and they told us that we won the team trophy too, amplifying the celebration! :) That was unreal. #FearTheTree #FearTheForest
Setting the World Record in Lucerne (in 2013). Amazing teammates, lots of hard training and it fueled the fire at the start of the quad.
Racing in practice- there are some pretty memorable results
Practicing and racing with my pair partner, Felice Mueller is fun everyday!
4. Best/Anything you've done in the sport no one knows about?
I did my first 2k as per my sister's suggestion before the 2-weeks of conditioning to "establish a baseline (and probably entertain my sister)." She pulled an erg into the living room, set it for 2k and off I went. After asking her a couple of times if I was doing it right, she advised me not to talk and to go harder. 8:10 was my first PR. We all start somewhere.
My first job was boathouse janitor at Maritime Rowing Club. Thanks Yan, Olga and Liz!
5. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
Take photos! Appreciate what you're doing and the people that support you to strive for your goals.
Lift with Dr. Jason Miller in Oklahoma City.
Be a great teammate and lead by example.
DATE OF BIRTH: 5/24/89
HEIGHT: 6'3”
WEIGHT: 165
BEGAN ROWING: 2004, Ann Arbor Pioneer High School
HOMETOWN: Ann Arbor, Mich.
BIRTHPLACE: Royal Oak, Mich.
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Princeton, N.J.
HIGH SCHOOL: Ann Arbor Pioneer High School
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: Stanford University, Human Biology, 2011
TRAINING LOCATION: Princeton, N.J.
CLUB AFFILIATIONS: USRowing Training Center – Princeton
National Teams: SENIOR: 2010, 2013-2016; UNDER 23 TEAMS: 2009-2011; JUNIOR: 2007
International Results: Won gold in the pair and in the eight at the 2016 World Rowing Cup II...Won gold in the four at the 2015 World Rowing Championships...Won gold in the eight and in the four at the 2015 World Rowing Cup 2...Won gold in the eight at the 2014 World Championships...Won gold in the eight and bronze in the pair at the 2014 World Rowing Cup 2...Won gold in the eight at the 2013 World Rowing Championships...Won gold and set a world record (5:54.16) in the final in the eight at the 2013 World Rowing Cup 3...Won silver in the eight at the 2013 World Rowing Cup 1...Won gold and set a world record the pair at the 2011 World Rowing Under 23 Championships...Finished third in the eight at the 2011 World Rowing Under 23 Championships...Finished third in the four at the 2010 World Rowing Championships...Won gold in the eight at the 2010 World Rowing Under 23 Championships...Served as an alternate on the 2009 World Championships squad...Finished second in the eight and fifth in the pair at the 2009 World Rowing Under 23 Championships...Finished third in the eight at the 2007 World Rowing Junior Championships.
National Results: Finished first in the pair at the 2016 National Selection Regatta 1...Finished third in the pair at the 2015 National Selection Regatta 1...Finished second in the pair at the 2014 National Selection Regatta 1...Finished third in the pair at the 2013 National Selection Regatta 2...Won the varsity eight and the team championship at the 2009 NCAA Championships...Won the varsity eight at the 2009 Pac-10 Conference Championships... Finished 11th in the varsity eight at the 2008 NCAA Championships...Finished third in the varsity eight at the 2008 Big 10 Conference Championships...Finished third in the championship eight at the 2007 Head of the Charles Regatta...Won gold in the senior eight at the 2007 USRowing Club National Championships...Finished second in the eight at the 2007 USRowing Youth National Championships...Won gold in the intermediate eight at the 2006 USRowing National Championships...Finished third in the four with coxswain at the 2006 USRowing Youth National Championships.
Personal: Her hobbies include driving her green Ford Fiesta, Kermit, to practice in the morning, shooting clays and goose hunting with her uncle and taking photos on excursions with friends...She was invited to play on the USA Volleyball development team...Grace enjoys exploring National Parks as well...She lists winning the 2009 NCAA team championship with Stanford and rowing with her sister in high school as her most memorable sporting achievements...Grace lists her personal heroes as her parents...In 2009, she made the All-Pacific-10 Team and All-West Region second team...Grace was the 2007-08 University of Michigan Freshman of the Year. After rowing, Grace would like to pursue a career at the intersection of health and business.
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