In one of the more dominant performances of the day the US women’s pair won their heat by 7 seconds and posted the second fastest time of the day. We caught up with Grace Luczak and Felice Mueller who make up the US Women’s pair after the race.
How did you feel out there today and did the race unfold the way you were expecting?
Luczak: We were supposed to race yesterday and I think that Felice and I were both itching to go. Today was an amazing day for Team USA because we had nine boats out on the water, so we were inspired by everyone else's performances and just ready to handle whatever came.
Mueller: I don't think we had any expectations. Just trying to have a good race, so I'm excited with how it unfolded.
When you're up that far, what's your thought process there?
Luczak: Just keep pushing? I don't know. Just race hard.
Were there any surprises for you or either of you?
Luczak: I think our strength as a crew is that we are able to stay really internal no matter what, and today was just about having a good solid piece and learning about the course and the conditions, so we did that.
What was it like sitting on the starting line before the light turned green?
Mueller: It was great!
Luczak: It was really fun. Tom always tells us to savor the moment up there, because the Olympics come every four years. We only get between three and four races. You just have to savor the moment. Bryan Volpenhein, who's the men's coach, talked about his 2004 race where they won a gold medal. It's something I think about when he says, "We were just chatting, having fun, cracking jokes with each other," so I think it's... for us, or at least for me, it's really nice to stay light-hearted and have fun.
So, were you cracking and telling jokes?
Luczak: Well, we were trying to stay straight. (Laughs)
How were the conditions on the course?
Luczak: It was relatively okay at the start. There was some wind that was pushing us to starboard side. Earlier in the day, the other crews, our 8 and our quad who we train with year-round, said that it was pushing to port. Things switched around, and then it kind of progressed a little in the middle and kind of turned into a tail. It kind of swirled. It was nice. Finally got a lot of conditions.
Does this outcome give you more confidence about really making a run?
Luczak : We're just stepping it forwards every single race and we're focused on one step at a time. Today was top three. We did that, we're excited. Our next race is going to be top three.
What was your favorite moment at the 2,000 meters?
Mueller:I liked the start.
Luczak :I liked the finish.
Why did you like the start?
Mueller: I just like when it's light and quick and. Our first start at the Olympic games is just such an adrenaline rush. So exciting!
Luczak :Magical.
Mueller: It was magical. Yeah.
As you look forward to the semis? What do you want to accomplish?
Luczak :It's top three, so that's what we want to accomplish.
Mueller:I think I've had a ton of fun racing with Grace and I just want to maximize on that, because we have a limited time together. It's our last couple races together. We're savoring every moment but also trying to make those moments when we're racing be as short as possible.
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