1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?
My mom inspired me. She and a friend of hers owned a 2x that they rowed every morning and one day I just decided I wanted to try it so my mom took me out in the 2x the next morning before school. I remember about 1k into the first practice (I had barely gotten to 1/4 slide rowing by then) I turned around and asked my mom "so, when can I race?"
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 think the first time I decided I could make the national team was the practice when I got cut from Junior National Team Selection Camp. After that I was determined to prove to the coaches that I actually was a good rower.
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice?
My best race was the final at the 2008 Lucerne World Cup. We were so composed and rowed our race exactly how we had planned it, yet still managed to react when we needed to and walk through Great Britain in the last 5 strokes. My worst practice was one morning when I had 18k to do before school. When I woke up, my ankle hurt so much I could barely walk, so of course, I decided to bike to practice instead of driving. I got there and by the time I finished the row and got back into the dock I was crying because my ankle hurt so much. My coach came over to me and asked what the heck was wrong with me, it really wasn't that difficult, I should be able to handle that distance. I told him my ankle really hurt and when he looked at it, he told me I should go to the emergency room. I looked down and realized my ankle was the size of a tennis ball. Apparently I had a staph infection in a blister on it, so I went to the emergency room and was there for 12 hours before going back to afternoon practice.
4. Best/Anything you've done in the sport no one knows about?
Not really in the sport, but related. I quit Gymnastics when I was younger because I didn't like the blisters on my hands.
5. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
Don't listen to people who tell you you can't reach your goals.
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