Alie Rusher graduated from Stanford in 2018 and is currently set to race 2-seat the USA W4x at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?
I knew I would try rowing one day because of my parents (Jack and Cindy, both 88 (dad bronze in 8+) and 92 (mom silver in 4-)), and my sister was in the varsity at St. Pauls so I signed up for crew right away when I started going to high school. I distinctly remember rowing all 8 for the first time. We had done a good amount of rowing by 6's and we were passing under the bridge on Turkey Pond when my coach called for us to go all 8. I did not know I was supposed to feather so was frantically trying to keep my blade off the water as we started to fly! My coach got very excited and shouted "Keep going!" as we passed the dock, where I thought we were going to stop. It felt like the longest piece of my life, even though it was probably less than 10 extra strokes!
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 loved crew right away because the more I put into it, the more I got out of it. I think the moment I decided to take the sport as far as I could happened at home one summer during college. We had 4x10 minutes "C" (anaerobic threshold) on the erg as a "suggested" workout and I was doing it alone on the porch. My splits were not great and I didn't feel on top of my game. I went inside to get some water during a break and asked my dad, who was sitting at the breakfast table, "Do you think it's ok if I only do three?" He turned to me and simply replied, "Do you want to be a champion?" I finished all four pieces. This moment rises in my mind every time things get hard-it reminds me that this is all a choice and I choose to say yes.
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice?
Worst practice: 12k in pairs at a 22 all out at Redwood Shores. I was a freshman rowing a pair with one of the strongest varsity rowers on the team and could only rely on blind rage to get me to the finish line. I had already yelled at one of the senior pairs to "let us spin first because we were faster." As we crossed under the last 1k bridge, I screamed at the top of my lungs "LET'S F-ing FINISH THIS STUPID F-ing 12K!"...and my coach thought I was yelling at her rather than attempting to inspire my boat. She started screaming at me and I of course thought she was trying to give some technical pointers but could hear nothing so kept shouting "WHAT?? WHAT!?" back to her.
When we got off the water my sister pulled me aside and told me that I better have an explanation ready for my coach. I had no idea that she thought I was mouthing off. Yaz stomped up to me and demanded that I repeat to her what I had yelled on the water, in front of everyone. I replied uncertainly, "Um, coach, I said "let's f-ing finish this stupid f-ing 12k. I was just trying to fire up for the sprint..." Everyone thought it was hilarious later but it was not great for me in the moment.
Best practice: Any morning with flat water and a beautiful sunrise. I always dock with a big smile on my face and the love of rowing in my heart!
4. Best/Anything you've done in the sport no one knows about?
I raced in every seat in the 8 in college! (Port or starboard)
5. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
Hometown: West Bend, Wis.
Club Affiliation: Princeton TC
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 170
Education: Stanford University, 2018
Training Location: Princeton, NJ
Current Coach: Tom Terhaar
National Teams: Three - Under 23, 2017-18; Olympic, 2020
International Results: Won bronze in the eight at the 2018 World Rowing Under 23 Championships...Finished 10th in the four at the 2017 World Rowing Under 23 Championships.
National Results: Finished fourth in the varsity eight at the 2018 NCAA Women's Rowing Championships...Finished second in the varsity eight at the 2017 NCAA Women's Rowing Championships...Finished third in the varsity eight at the 2016 NCAA Women's Rowing Championships.
Personal: Alie enjoys sailing, hiking and reading. She was first-team PAC-12 All-Academic in 2017 and 2018. Alie also won the Stanford Award of Excellence. She is an avid nature photographer and volunteers at the Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation. She lists her parents as her sports heroes.
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