The Irish Women's Four of Aifric Keogh, Eimear Lambe, Fiona Murtagh, and Emily Hegarty won their event at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta and will race at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?
Aifric Keogh: I didn’t know much about rowing and it was offered at my school. On my first day we did a grueling wall sit challenge.
Eimear Lambe: I had three older sisters who were all rowing, but I somehow managed to show up on my first day in a swimsuit.
Fiona Murtagh: My twin brother got me to join rowing. On my very first day I didn’t know how to put the boat back on the rack and I dropped it on my finger. Still have a scar to this day!
Emily Hegarty: Tried rowing as a last resort as I was pretty poor at all other sports.
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?
Aifric Keogh: I fell in love with the sport after I won the junior 8 with my school in 2008.
Eimear Lambe: I probably didn’t believe it until I made the Coupe team in 2013. We came dead last but I knew there was potential.
Fiona Murtagh: I fell in love with the sport after I won my first race in junior 4x+.
Emily Hegarty: I raced a double with Sanita when I was a junior. Carrying her over the line made me realize anything was possible.
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice?
Aifric Keogh: Worst race was junior 16 4x+ at Carlow regatta. Steering wire snapped 10 strokes in, made eye contact with the cox and she shouted EEEASE UP IMMEEEDIATLEYYYY. Best race was 2nd place at Europeans in Varese, 2021.
Eimear Lambe: Worst race was racing junior quads when the bow girl caught a double crab and instead of trying to fix her blades and start rowing again she said, “Go on without me,” with 500m to go. And we did. Best race – Qualifying for Tokyo.
Fiona Murtagh: Worst race was in 2014 when I herniated my discs mid race. Best race was making my senior international debut at European Champs 2020.
Emily Hegarty: Worst training session was 3k into a 30min r20 when the chain snapped off the erg and I fell back hitting my head on the slide. Thought it was hilarious until I had to finish off the piece on another erg. Best race was semifinal of 2- at 2018 worlds, shame we peaked there and not the final.
4. Best/Anything you've done in the sport no one knows about?
Aifric Keogh: I won the MEN'S senior 8 at Carrick on Shannon Sprints.
Eimear Lambe: I was the tallest person to not make the basketball team.
Fiona Murtagh: I’ve never raced a World Championship.
Emily Hegarty: I've never capsized a boat.
5. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
Aifric Keogh: If you overthink, you sink.
Eimear Lambe: Enjoy the journey.
Fiona Murtagh: Eat up! Food is fuel.
Emily Hegarty: Learn to driver ASAP. It'll make life much easier.
Aifric Keogh
Hometown: Galway, IRL
Date of Birth: July 9, 1992
Height: 5'11"
Education: UCC Ireland
Years on National Team: Seven
Eimear Lambe
Hometown: Dublin, IRL
Date of Birth: August 11, 1997
Education: University College Dublin
Years on National Team: Two
Fiona Murtagh
Hometown: Galway, IRL
Date of Birth: July 7, 1995
Height: 6'1"
Education: Fordham University
Years on National Team: Two
Emily Hegarty
Hometown: Skibbereen, IRL
Date of Birth: August 3, 1998
Education: UCC Ireland
Years on National Team: Four
Comments | Log in to comment |
There are no Comments yet
|
row2k's Olympics coverage is brought to you by:
row2k's Olympics coverage is brought to you by: