1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?
I went to my first rowing practice because my mom really wanted me to go. I really didn't want to because I didn't think I wanted to learn a new sport. I was a transfer student and as it turned out, there were a bunch of girls on my floor in the dorms that were going to the first crew meeting. So I went to be social. I remember that the coaches were there and I noticed that they were talking off to the side and one of them pointed at me and they looked over and were talking and I thought, "hmmm, maybe they think I might be good at this."
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 fell in love with rowing from the first practice. I grew up on the water and I just love to be near the water and I immediately felt at home when I rowed. It took a little longer to figure out that I might be kinda good at it!!! The first race that I did that made me think that I might be able to make the national team was when I won the single at national championships in 1999. It was a pretty big surprise to me.
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice?
I would have to say that the worse practice was an erg workout that we used to do at ARCO. It was (9 minutes on 90 seconds off) x 9 at 6k pace +2 splits. We almost never made it through all 9 pieces. There was fainting and hyperventilating going on. The worse race I ever had was in the quad in Tiawan when we did a floating start in a raging head wind, each member of the boat caught a crab because of the conditions and the race took over 9 minutes.
The best practices are harder to remember!! The best race would have to be Olympic Trials this summer because it meant that I was going to race at the Olympics.
4- Best/Anything you've done in the sport no one knows about?
I once rowed in an open water scull in Alaska. A friend of mine in my home town, who is a rowing enthusiast has a few sculls. It was pretty amazing to row in the open ocean.
5- Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
Every time a coach tells you that you are a terrible rower, just smile, nodd and prove them wrong.
Comments | Log in to comment |
There are no Comments yet
|
row2k's Olympics coverage is brought to you by:
row2k's Olympics coverage is brought to you by: