Audio of Michelle Guerette, USA W1x
Text transcript:
row2k: Yes, semis can be treacherous, what did you do to approach this?
Michelle Guerette: Semis are the scariest race ever, they're always the worst. I was so ready this morning I was just so excited but I also knew it was the final. It was kind of like this do or die, like sick to my stomach feeling all day. You know, like I ate breakfast and it was like ewww this doesn't sit well and had a bar and I should probably keep going. And um, just knew you know, that it was going to take a full, full go.
row2k: So, it was a good thing, you think?
Michelle Guerette: It was a good thing, to be that nervous?
row2k: Yeah.
Michelle Guerette: I think so. When you're just on the edge and you know when you're feeling great and you're ready to uh, to tear things up like in the heats. You get a heat streak, so it's really exciting, but this was definitely controlled and uh, and faster and uh, hard. You have to push yourself.
row2k: Are you having trouble with the starts?
Michelle Guerette: A little bit, a little bit. I think so.
row2k: First ten or twelve strokes.
Michelle Guerette: Yeah, definitely and then I think I'm getting better you know, cause I used to be down on the start. So now, I'm kind of staying with everybody. So that's good.
row2k: Nice.
Michelle Guerette: Definitely you know you feel it kick in while you're on. In way that it hasn't before. You do have to pay for something, start suffering, but definitely kept it tipping over better than I had in previous races. That's good. And then I think coming into the, you know, into the finish trying to definitely made a big push. And started to go with her and I think you know, first of all, it didn't, kinda didn't take. You know, it was a little rough, too and I wasn't, I think I was a little thrown off by it. I wasn't totally expecting it. Um, then I saw Mierka just pacing along and you know I gave a push and thought. Kind of actually slowed myself down a little bit I was a little rough about it. And uh I thought you're here and you're in the top three, you're in the final, just hold, get through. So it's good.
row2k: The crowd must have been pretty noisy at that point.
Michelle Guerette: It was incredible. I mean, you could here?when the Chinese guard just took it up, there was a roaring?I think the roar was going on anyway.
row2k: Yeah.
Michelle Guerette: It was really exciting. But uh, you could hear that crowd all the to the thousand.
row2k: Right, especially little head waving.
Michelle Guerette: Yes, moving right along. You're like what is that.
row2k: Was it distracting at all to have them go ballistic for them?
Michelle Guerette: Wednesday, actually it shocked me how loud the crowd was. Cause you know, I saw people in the stands before the race, first race wasn't totally full. Got out here, did the warm up wasn't paying attention. Come out you don't hear anything, then all of a sudden coming down the course there's this roar from behind and those drums and the stomping on the seats.
row2k: Yeah, yeah they had those plastic sticks.
Michelle Guerette: Those sticks, that's what it is. It's just like this low beat, it's frightening.
row2k: And they have this theme. It's all choreographed
Michelle Guerette: Really?
row2k: Person standing out front instructing it.
Michelle Guerette: So from the athlete perspective, it definitely threw me off per say, but ever since then it's been a total adrenaline rush.
row2k: Was there ever any point in this race, any critical point in this race in particular when you thought, ok this is it. I'm in control or I have to do something here?
Michelle Guerette: I really focused on the leaders. I really thought, you know in a semi final you can get so caught up in what position you need to make that you focus on the race coming after you. I thought if I just go with the leaders they'll carry through. And I think I knew it had to be frontloaded a little bit, so I think that?s what, you know, what it was today. Um, especially for me.
row2k: Yeah
Michelle Guerette: But I think it was necessary. I think we had to get out, make some space and just secure a spot. You know, because things will get interesting, so I really got going and felt it around the five hundred.
row2k: Great day.
Michelle Guerette: Oh Yeah, definitely.
row2k: Which is normal.
Michelle Guerette: Normal How? It always hurts. [Laughter] Right? Never feels easy.
row2k: What do you think for the finals? Have any?thought that far ahead?
Michelle Guerette: I'm taking everything one day at a time. Just even today it was one step at a time. Like get up, have breakfast, do your drills on the water, get back on the bus. Don't think about it too much, you know. Maybe check out the internet, check out the NY Times. Ok, one foot in front of the other, you know, I just didn't think more than thirty seconds ahead all day. So, um, same thing for the final, just get in the block, stay relaxed, watch for a good time and just come in, I think.
row2k: Thinking back to medals last year, do you think this is going to help you along; the successes you've had over the past four years?
Michelle Guerette: I think learning; you know learning what it takes. And also learning that the level comes up every time and uh, and it's amazing at this level. I am getting trained really hard all year; you think this is what I really need to do in order to give myself the chance to be there and it's still surprising. You get here and everyone is right there. Because you train so hard and you think this is gonna make it? you know, it's just amazing that everyone all over the world?well not everybody but six people, twelve people?
row2k: Six to eight.
Michelle Guerette: ..are pushing themselves and getting ready for this moment. It's just really cool to witness it, in addition to participating and hauling yourself down the course. It's just cool to see.
row2k: Well, it was a good race
Michelle Guerette: Yeah, it was, it was good. Time to go.
Audio of Elliot Hovey, USA M2x
Text transcript
row2k: I know you guys were talking your original plan was twenty- twelve. Talking to Tim he said you know just sort of sped up the plan. As you enter the regatta, are you already thinking ahead to this?
Elliot Hovey: Absolutely. Yeah, this is uh, it's a first step of many. It's unusual to be the first step, but first step has to be taken. It's the Olympics you know.
row2k: Yeah,
Elliot Hovey: Well...
row2k: How surprised you were... go ahead.
Elliot Hovey: Generally, I think most people have their first international races at World cups or World Championships. I think the Olympics is a little far fetched, you know, but we're fortunate enough to be able to have this experience, this is something that most people don't have. We're really happy to be here and get the experience that we've had, you know, running up against like some of the big names like Rob Waddell that's right over there. It's like a dream come true as it is you know. I'm delighted that we could play it out next to them and put out the best we can and see how we match up compared to these guys, you know. And it's uh, you know we didn't ideally we didn?t make our ultimate goal, which was to make the A Final but...
row2k: Sure, but a hair short two days ago and that was a gnarly race.
Elliot Hovey: Yeah, it was tough. It was the best race we've ever done. And it really went down on the line as you can see.
row2k: Yeah, I was here at the finish.
Elliot Hovey: Yeah, I mean this is the next level you know and this is where we gotta compete and you can't simulate it unless you're there.
row2k: When this all started to come together this Summer, I mean you've had a good summer. Were you surprised that is shaped up this way? Was it in the cards at all or was it like all of a sudden wait a minute, I've gotta quit my job when all of this started.
Elliot Hovey: Yeah, well you know, I had been talking to employers and stuff about my job and saying you know wait til after trials and ..
row2k: (Elliot is called to a family photo) You've gotta go. No, it's ok. Go, go, go.
The interview continued later with Wes Piermarini in attendance:
row2k: What are you planning for the rest of the week? Are you going to go out rowing to start training?
Wes: Ha, well, we were thinking of seeing if we could get out in one of the singles, but we're going to come down every day for the racing to cheer on our teammates.
Elliot: We're definitely in it all the way to the end, and just because we are done racing, we're not really done here. There is still a lot to learn from seeing all these incredible crews race, and to do everything we can to help our team.
row2k: Did you give any thought to the fact that it was US vs. Iraq in this race?
Wes: Not at all; i think we had the best races of our lives so far the other day (in the rep), and we wanted to have as good a race as we could today.
row2k: The times seem to show that went pretty well...
Elliot: Yes, the times put us right in the game, which is where we wanted to be.
row2k: What is your plan when you get home? Are you headed back to California, and will you take some time off?
Wes: We're set up nicely in California, and I think we'll take a little time off... (looks at Elliot and laughs)
Elliot: (laughs) Well, the plan is to take some time off, but we'll probably end up going out for a paddle, and then will start working hard... (both laugh)
Audio of Hussein Jebur of the Iraqi M2x
Text transcript:
Interviewer: You didn't you would come until three months ago?
Hussein Jebur: From last month we have, we cannot be sure.
Interviewer: Yeah.
Jebur: And then they said that the International Olympic Council make a recommendation that I will see and to make us participate now. And last week Rafael Norman sent some person to speak with the International Olympic Council and they say that we can participate and..
Interviewer: That was great news for you.
Jebur: Yes, it was so great.
Interviewer: So, will you be working from 2012 now? Instead of three months preparation will you try to get four years of preparation in?
Jebur: Yes, yes it's neat, neat.
Interviewer: Do you think you'll, do you have to go train overseas? Is that something you should be training at home, do you need to move overseas or anything to train or is it good to be home.
Jebur: No, it's good to be there. We get back from three weeks before the time we prepare for it. It's like if we need to go there for two or three weeks to feel better and condition, but its good.
Interviewer: So, it's been a bit difficult has it, coming in?
Jebur: It's not so difficult, because in Iraq it's warm also. But we still spend time for training early in the morning and late in the afternoon.
Interviewer: Your family, do they all live in Baghdad, still?
Jebur: Yeah, my family still lives there.
Interviewer: And you get to go back and visit them as soon as you can?
Jebur: Yeah, of course.
Interviewer: Ok, thank you. Congratulations!
Jebur: Thank you.
Female Voice: One more question, I'm sorry. One more question. Have you met any really dangerous situations back home.
Jebur: Last three month we met something dangerous. Last year it's gotten, the situation is better.
Female Voice: Ok, alright. Thank you.
Interviewer: Have you been through some difficult times in the last couple of years. Just, you know, trying to be an athlete.
Jebur: Yeah, but we cannot leave the training for two months, we cannot go there. It's so dangerous. Anybody go there from [ ], they will kill them.
Interviewer: Now, you had to try to avoid those situations where people might take shots and that kind of thing. Is that very difficult for you?
Jebur: Uh, yeah but I cannot let them scare me away. Anyway, but it's getting better.
Interviewer: Ok, that's good news.
Jebur: Thank you.
Male Voice: Could you say again what you said after you crossed the finish line with the other crew?
Jebur: The American said ok good. Good start. Good guys. They are very good.
Male Voice: Ok, thanks. Congratulations.
Interviewer: Thank you very much.
Female Voice: Thank you.
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