Read Ellen's original row2k Starting Five questions here!
1. How have you prepared differently for this quadrennial than previous cycles?
Well, in the years leading up to Beijing and London, I trained out of the Princeton Training Center. The focus there was to get the whole group as fit and fast and possible, without as much focus on individualization.
This quadrennial, I have trained (mostly) outside of the main Women's Training Center group. Meghan and I left the PTC in the fall of 2013 to pursue the W2x. Our focus has been on learning to move the 1x and 2x as efficiently as we can. We have also been able to make a lot more of our own decisions about who we would work with and what our training plan would look like. The most important thing for me is that I have been able to add in more cross training to my routine in order to stay healthy. We have found what works for us as individuals, and have catered our training toward that.
2. Did anything completely unexpected happen, or do you have any memorable or unusual stories from your previous Olympiad?
On the first night after our final, some of us went into Beijing to have some fun. Since the rowing course was so far outside of the city, we were staying at a hotel near the venue, 90 minutes outside of the Olympic Village. We weren't moving into the Village until the next day, so we had to take the long cab ride back to the hotel at the end of the night. But that 90 minute cab ride turned into a 3 hour tour of China. The driver got lost, and we were driving around the country side, unable to communicate with our driver or anyone he stopped to ask for directions (no one spoke English, and we didn't speak Mandarin). The English to Mandarin translation card that the USOC had given us was almost completely useless. We kept pointing to the word 'hotel', and the driver kept nodding, looking more and more annoyed each time (probably thinking something like "Yeah, got it, you want to go to your hotel, but I still don't know where the heck it is!"...Definitely the PG version!) It wasn't until I spotted the smoke stacks of the local brewery down the road from our hotel that I was able to point us in the right direction.
3. Any/Most important advice for first time Olympians?
Make sure you don't get too involved in your family and friends' adventures at the games. It's great that they are there to support you, but trying to coordinate times and places to meet up or worrying about what they are up to can be tiring and sometimes stressful. Luckily, you will have all the time in the world to see them after you are done competing!
4. What was your state of mind like sitting in the starting block of your first Olympic race?
Funny enough, I didn't have much time in the starting blocks of my first Olympic race. We were about 1 sec from being late for the start. The warmup/cool-down area was different from any we had been in before, and we missed the opening in the buoys to head back toward the start. We ended up rowing back down to the bottom of the course and basically did an AT 2k back to the starting area. We locked in at the 2 minute warning, looked over at our coach Laurel to see just how much trouble we would be in once we got off the water, and tossed our water bottles to the stake boat holders. I was just so relieved we made it to the start line, I didn't even have time to be nervous!
5. What's different this time around/what will you do differently at this Olympics?
Last time, I was just so excited to be going. I knew I wanted to race hard, go fast, and do well; but I lacked a sense of purpose. This time, we are on a mission for the podium.
6. Do you feel older/better/wiser/stronger/other? Definitely older (lots of grey hair), wiser (so many thoughts and opinions on rowing/training), and stronger (lifting heavy weights this year); but only sometimes better!
7. Does the phrase "the Olympics" ring differently the next time around?
I think this time it has a lot more meaning for me. I made the team in 2008 after only two years of elite training (and 4 years of college rowing), so I am not sure if I really appreciated what it meant to get to go and represent my country at the Olympic Games and to compete against so many amazing athletes who had dedicated their lives to being there. However, I definitely knew what I was missing by not making the London team. In the fall of 2012, I decided that it was worth dedicating another 4 years of my life for the opportunity to get back to the Olympics and to race for another chance at a medal. I am so grateful and honored to have earned another spot on the Olympic Team.
8. As far as regattas go, comparing the olympics to different races (Worlds, Lucerne), is it a better or different regatta, or just higher stakes?
Honestly, Lucerne is my favorite regatta. The level of competition is very high, but it is also laid back and fun. The World Championships are a step above the World Cup Regattas in competition and importance, so there is an added level of excitement and nerves in the boatyard. The Olympic Regatta is the most prestigious of all regattas, so everything is elevated. Tensions are higher, the stakes are higher, and everyone is at their ultimate physical peak. You are racing the best of the best at their best and only get one chance every fours years at the Olympic podium.
DATE OF BIRTH: 5/1/84
HEIGHT: 5’10”
WEIGHT: 160
BEGAN ROWING: University of Michigan, 2002
HOMETOWN: Flushing, Mich.
BIRTHPLACE: Flint, Mich.
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Princeton, N.J.
HIGH SCHOOL: Luke M. Powers Catholic High School
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: University of Michigan, Economics, 2006
CURRENT COACH: Sarah Trowbridge, Kevin Sauer
CLUB AFFILIATIONS: USRowing Training Center – Oklahoma City, New York Athletic Club
National Teams: SENIOR: 2007-2009, 2013-2016, UNDER 23: 2006
International Results: Finished 11th in the double sculls at the 2015 World Rowing Championships...Won silver in the double sculls at the 2015 World Rowing Cup 2…Finished sixth in the double sculls at the 2014 World Rowing Championships...Won silver in the double sculls at the 2014 World Rowing Cup 2…Finished seventh in the double sculls at the 2013 World Rowing Championships...Won bronze in the double sculls at the 2013 World Rowing Cup 3...Won silver in the eight at the 2013 World Cup 1...Finished sixth in the double sculls at the 2009 World Rowing Championships…Won gold in the double sculls and took silver in the quadruple sculls at the 2009 World Rowing Cup 2…Finished fifth in the double sculls at the 2008 Olympic Games…Finished fourth in the double sculls at the 2008 Rowing World Cup in Lucerne…Finished seventh in the double sculls at the 2008 Rowing World Cup in Munich…Finished sixth in the quadruple sculls at the 2007 World Rowing Championships…Finished fourth in the pair at the 2006 World Rowing Under 23 Championships.
National Results: Won the double sculls at the 2016 Olympic & Paralympic Team Trials...Won the double sculls at the 2015 National Selection Regatta 1…Won the double sculls at the 2014 National Selection Regatta 2...Won the single at the 2013 USRowing East Coast Fall Speed Order...Won the double sculls at the 2013 National Selection Regatta 2...Finished second in the single sculls at the 2013 National Selection Regatta 1...Won the single sculls at the 2012 USRowing Fall Speed Order...Won the single sculls at the 2009 USRowing Fall Speed Order…Won the single sculls at the 2009 USRowing Elite Nationals… Won the Championship Double and the Championship Four at the 2009 Head of the Charles Regatta…Won the double sculls at the 2009 National Selection Regatta 2…Finished third in the single sculls at the 2009 National Selection Regatta 1…Finished third in the single sculls at the 2009 USRowing Spring Speed Order…Won the double sculls at the 2008 National Selection Regatta 2…Finished fourth in the double sculls at the 2007 National Selection Regatta 3.
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