1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?
I didn't know anything about rowing going into college. So I went to the first practice to find out what rowing was all about.
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?
Rowing is one of those sports where you develop a unique love/hate relationship. The thing I like about rowing is the competition and racing. I just like to race everyone. As far as anything else goes for rowing I like to sum it up with a speech I got in college. It was the only "feeling" speech I got. It was my freshmen year and my coach asked one of the guys "what does it feel like to win?" The guy responded "good" and that's all it is. It feels good to win. That's all you need to know. I think that's what keeps me going in the sport.
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice?
I've had a lot of both but that's just how it goes. I think the important thing is learning from your worst practices to make sure you keep having your best. My hope is I still have my best race coming up!
4. Best/Anything you've done in the sport no one knows about?
I was undefeated in duel races throughout my college career.
5. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
You just got to want it!
Birthplace: Alamosa, Colo.
Hometown: DeKalb, Ill.
Current Residence: Chula Vista, Calif.
Club Affiliation: USRowing Training Center – Chula Vista
Began Rowing: University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2005
Date of Birth: 8/17/87
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 195
High School: DeKalb High School
Undergraduate Education: University of Wisconsin, Madison, B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, 2009
Occupation: Engineering Consultant
Employer: Next-Gen Wind
Current Coaches: Tim McLaren, Mike Teti
Years on National Team: Four - 2008, Under 23; 2009, 2011-12, Senior
International Results: Won the eight at the 2012 Final Olympic Qualification Regatta...Finished second in the eight at the 2011 E.ON Hanse Canal Cup…Finished eighth in the eight at the 2011 World Rowing Championships…Finished fourth in the eight at the 2011 Rowing World Cup stop in Lucerne...Reached the semifinals of the Grand Challenge Cup at the 2011 Henley Royal Regatta...Finished ninth in the four at the 2010 Rowing World Cup in Lucerne…Finished ninth in the eight at the 2009 World Rowing Championships…Finished seventh in the eight at the 2009 Rowing World Cup in Lucerne…Won gold in the eight at the 2008 World Rowing Under 23 Championships.
National Results: Won the varsity eight at the 2008 Eastern Sprints and IRA Championships.
Personal: Grant’s hobbies include recreational shooting…He was a High Power Rifle Marksmanship National Champion in 2006…Grant’s twin brother, Ross, is also a national team rower and Olympic hopeful…Grant’s most memorable sporting achievement was stroking the gold-medal varsity eight to the IRA Championship in 2008…He says a close second was stroking the gold-medal eight to the Under 23 World Championship in 2008…The most influential person in Grant’s sporting career was his Wisconsin coach, Chris Clark, whom Grant says was instrumental in his development as a rower…The most influential person in Grant’s life is his mother, who is his number one supporter and fan, and without whom he would not be where he is today…Grant hopes to win an Olympic medal and to pursue a career in engineering after rowing.
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