1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it.
I started rowing when I was eleven years old. While many rowers enter the sport later in life, I had a strong incentive to start early. I am the youngest of three children and both of my older brothers rowed. Until I was big enough to fit in a single, my Mom and I would go for a ‘fun’ 10km run around the lake while they were busy at practice. Like a typical little sister, I very badly wanted to tag along with my older siblings. I also figured that a sport that looked so graceful couldn’t possibly be as strenuous as running with my Mom, who even now is very quick on her feet. Hindsight, eh?
2. Was there a practice, race or other event when you fell in love with the sport, or when you knew that you might not be too bad at rowing? When you thought that you could make the national team?
There was never a specific moment when I fell in love with rowing. I played a number of sports as a kid, and while I certainly enjoyed rowing, it only gradually began to stand out for me in my last few years of high school. In the early days I used to say that I ‘liked’ rowing but ‘loved’ playing hockey. My first coach, Dick McClure, played a large role in giving rowing the top spot in my heart. Dick is an Olympian and a former Olympic coach who especially enjoyed working with young athletes. He used to regale us novices with tales of Olympic rowers who flipped their boats, got blisters, and struggled with steering only to persevere and achieve great success. It dawned on me that with enough hard work and dedication I too could potentially represent my country on the world stage.
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice.
Here’s a free bit of advice. Practicing or racing when you have the stomach flu is and forever shall be a terrible idea.
One of my most memorable but most challenging series of practices took place shortly before the 2012 Olympics. We were trying out different combinations in the 8+ and for about a week I switched sides and raced every other day. Although the process made my brain feel like stir-fry and I was physically spent, it was very satisfying to push the boundaries of my skill as rower.
Possibly my all-time favourite race was the NCAA varsity final my senior year at Princeton. A hallmark of an exceptional crew is trust, and we had that in spades. We were fiercely challenged at the 1km mark, yet I remember having absolutely no doubt in my teammates or myself when our coxswain called for a response. I have been fortunate to experience that level of trust in subsequent crews, but that particular race left a lasting impression.
4. Best/anything that you’ve done in the sport no one knows about?
I have an undefeated personal record as a coxswain. Albeit from one race in a Junior B men’s coxed 4x...but still!
5. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
Try to train with people who are faster than you. Whether that means working with a different boat class or age category, it prevents you from becoming complacent and keeps your mental game strong. If no faster boats are available, give slower boats a generous margin or race against your own previous results. I’ve always found that I learn more and gain speed faster when I have a target to chase down.
Date Of Birth: Oct 17, 1989
Coach: John Keogh
Height: 180cm
Weight: 75kg
Hometown: North Vancouver, BC
Current Club: Burnaby Lake Rowing Club
Favourite professional sports team: Vancouver Whitecaps
Biggest fans: My family
Favorite post-workout meal: Pasta with fresh basil pesto and arugula
Top tip for waking up so early each morning: Go to bed early! Year first rowed: 2001
First Rowed at: Burnaby Lake Rowing Club
First Coach: Dick McClure
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