Hannah Scott graduated from Princeton in 2021 and is currently set to race in the Great Britain W4x at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?
I started rowing at Bann Rowing Club in Coleraine, Northern Ireland. I had watched three men from my club bring back Olympic medals for Great Britain in London 2012, so I had partly been inspired by them as my club is very small in comparison to other rowing clubs around the world. I think there are roughly 50 members.
In terms of my first rowing practice, I remember feeling horrendously uncomfortable doing the stroke and horrendously unfit too. Thankfully I stuck it out.
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 growing up I had to find my own self-belief as I didn’t have my coach telling me I was good at rowing, in fact, quite the opposite. I would definitely say he took the more critical approach in his coaching style! Now I am thankful for this, because as a result, growing up I felt like the only way I was going to be successful was if I believed in myself. Since then I’ve been put in so many situations and challenges that if I didn’t believe I could do it, then who would!
I think with rowing I fell in love with the idea that hard work gets you far in the sport. It doesn’t matter where you come from, or what facilities you have, you can still be successful. This has been evident with people like the O’Donovan brothers; where there is a will, there is a way! I also have this idea that the minute you think you are the best at something in training is the minute you’ve lost the race. I think it is best to have the mindset and hunger when in training that you can always be better.
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice?
There are a lot of practices to choose from! Best practice is probably one of the sunset paddles I did in Avis Portugal this year on training camp. To be honest, anything with a sunrise or sunset is usually up there for me! Typically means the water is pretty still too.
Best race would have to be Henley Royal Regatta when myself and Heidi Long won the Hambledon Cup as a U23 pair. Worst race is hard to say as I always think I have at least learnt something from my less successful or tougher races. In terms of worst practices, I've had a few freezing cold practices on Carnegie Lake before, so I would say they’ve definitely made me tough.
4. Best/Anything you've done in the sport no one knows about?
Gracefully threw up on the flight out for my first senior race with the GB team at the European Championships this year. Thanks Ryanair.
5. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
Enjoy the sport and don’t get too caught up in the international racing emphasis side as a junior. There is A LOT of time for that in the long run and your longevity in the sport, as boring as it may seem, is the most important thing as a junior I think.
Home Town: Coleraine, Northern Ireland
Club Affiliation: Bann Rowing Club
Date of Birth: June 18, 1999
High School: Coleraine Grammar School
Undergraduate Education: Princeton University, 2021
Current Coach: Lauren Fisher
National Teams: Three - Under 23, 2018-19; Olympic, 2020
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