The US women's four found their feet today, bursting into the lead just after 500 meters gone to push out to a full length's lead on the field, and held steady for the win to take 7th place overall in the 2020 Games.
row2k: How does it feel to go out like that, to bring it together on the last day?
Claire Collins: It feels really good. Obviously, no matter what race it is, it feels good to have your bow ball ahead at the end of the race, but most importantly, we put together the best race we had the whole week. It wasn't perfect, but it was the best race we had, so to be proud of that and finish off with that is a good feeling.
Maddie Wanamaker: It's good to walk away from this, especially for those of us who are continuing to row, with just a really fun race. It's good to be reminded how cool this is and have a good time at the Olympics in competition, even if it didn't really come together at the beginning of the regatta. I'm proud of all of us and happy to walk away with the win in a race - even if it was the B-final.
Collins: It's still the Olympics!
Wanamaker: It's still the Olympics. We're still here.
Kendall Chase: It was a really good hard-fought race from all of the crews, and we executed the race plan that we wanted to execute. We took all of our moves exactly how we wanted to, and there was no lull ever in the race. We said, "Just keep walking. Keep walking." I couldn't be prouder of these women. It's been such an honor and so fun to train and race with them, and I'm really proud of us and I'm glad that we came away with a win and something to take into the rest of our careers and the rest of our lives.
Grace Luczak: This is my last race with the US and at the Olympics, and I would not have sent it off in any other way than with these girls, and it was so fun. It would have been nice if we had one or two more races, so you could have kept building because I think this boat has more speed, but I'm so excited to watch these girls in the future, and I was really proud to be a part of their journey too.
row2k: To that point, do you feel like you are just getting good as a crew, and now it is over?
Chase: : That's one way to look at it, but we did everything that we wanted to, and that was our best race yet, as much as we could do in the moment. We went after it like it was the A final; we just wanted to get ahead and win, and that's what we did.
Collins: It is a little bittersweet because it's a great ending, but then you're like, "Oh! We just figured it out, let's keep going!" However, being in the elite circle this year, I learned that very few people get to have the perfect ending, and very few people get to end on the top of the top, and sometimes, even when they do, they're still not satisfied for some reason. You can always keep chasing. That's what life is about.
Luczak: : These girls have three more years too, with the shorter cycle of getting ready for Paris.
Collins: We're coming back.
Luczak: : Well, not all of us, but I'll cheer you on!
row2k: Will you be following along with them like their auntie?
Chase: : She's been like our boat grandma for the last two months. She documents literally everything that we do. She takes pictures of me sleeping for the memes, she takes elevator selfies. She's our media person.
Luczak: : It's a weird Olympics, and these guys didn't get to experience everything I got to in Rio. So keep going guys, just keep getting better - but all the little moments are the magical moments here. Obviously the racing is what we came here to do, and I'm very proud of our progress and feeling good with that last race, but there's also the magic of being here at the Olympics. Like the Iranian single sculler, that is the coolest thing, and it's so cool to see women's rowing progress. We're in the women's four, an event that's really going to help build the sport, and I'm excited to see more diversity come into the sport too. It's just cool. It's going to be cool to watch you grow.
Collins: And everything happens for a reason. Whether we come back to row or not, you use the lessons and you can get fired up about it, or you can get down about it, it's your choice. There were a lot of really good, helpful lessons that I'm hoping to use in the next couple of years, and just enjoy it and keep getting better.
Chase: : Not just lessons that you can take into rowing, but the lessons that I've learned, we can take into our lives. Never settling. Never getting complacent. Always trying to improve on whatever it is you are doing, and just to keep trying to better ourselves just like we did this whole regatta.
Luczak: : And never being alone too. The cool thing about the team boat is we've always got each other, and I've learned so much from this group. I'm always there for you guys. I've got your back.
Chase: : Thanks, Granny!
Wanamaker: I want to add that it's been a crazy two years with the pandemic, and all of us have dealt with injury this year, so I think this is proving that you can get through the really hard times; it was not a fun year for anyone in the world. It's a testament that these Olympics can happen, and even though this isn't the best result, I am grateful that it happened and grateful to be on the team, and grateful to our teammates who didn't make the team, who pushed us on.
Luczak: : Thanks to Japan for hosting too and I want to say thanks to my family and my fiancé Mike and his son Jack for all the support, because this was not an anticipated extra year. Just throughout my whole rowing career, thanks to my whole family.
Chase: : Also, huge shoutout to all of our host families. Helane and Richard Staller kept a roof over my head for the last five years. They have been great and super supportive, and they've seen me through the lowest of the lows and some highs, and I'm just really grateful and thankful for them to be a part of my life and my journey.
Collins: Go Yonish family!
Wanamaker: Yeah, Kigins! Thanks, Quincy!
Luczak: : And the Erlichsons, and Marlene and the Sarvis family.
Collins: And all of America! Go, America!
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