Three weeks ago, on Lake Lucerne, a record was broken. The USA Women's Eight broke the world's best time for their boat class. Though the boat has a history of winning, this line-up included many new USA rowers, and it was during that race that the team proved itself to be fresh and fast. These nine women would continue the legacy of the USA W8+.
Last week, the nine from Lucerne were named as the line-up that would represent the United States at the World Championships in Chungju, Korea at the end of August. row2k had a chance to sit down with four of these women to hear about the new quadrennial, their race in Lucerne and the future of the W8+.
Caroline Lind and Amanda Polk are veterans of Team USA. Both women have been competing with the team since their junior years in 2000 and 2004, respectively. As the experienced women on the budding team, they are the wise seniors of the team, offering advice to the younger athletes. In contrast, Lauren Schmetterling and Vicky Opitz are just approaching their year anniversary at the training center—Lucerne was their first international competition with the US Team and a successful first it was.
Although these women are in different parts of their journey, it now intersects. They, with their five other boat mates, comprise one of the fastest women's eights of all time and all eyes will be turned to them as they compete at Worlds.
row2k: What is it like being at the Princeton Training Center at the beginning of the new quadrennial?
Amanda Polk: The first year for me was 2008-09, the beginning of the last quad, and it was a huge learning year; adjusting to the new environment of Princeton, finally living on my own outside of college and learning how to build my own routine and getting to know all the rowers. Even though I had been to camps before, some of the veterans were coming back. It was definitely a new experience in regards to getting to know the veterans and getting to know them. It was a huge learning year.
This year it has been slightly different coming back, having had the experience of a full quadrennial and now its trying to see where I can improve, what is my next step and reorienting the new girls coming in and building the chemistry on the team.
It's really cool because I am flattered when the new girls are asking me questions, because just a few years ago I was the one asking the questions.
Caroline Lind: This boat is like no boat I have ever been in before. The energy and excitement is so fresh and awesome; the potential here is amazing. I have been in boats with so many amazing rowers; hopefully I can translate some of what they have taught me to the younger girls. The boat and the people in it are so talented and so raw—it's just so exciting. I have been doing this for so long, and some people ask ' Does it ever get old?' but having these new faces and new possibilities make me excited to come to practice every day.
It almost feels like a collegiate team in the personalities, it's a really selfless team and we want to have fun and do a good job. This crew is bringing that energy to the national team, which is something we have never had before.
row2k: Vicky and Lauren, what is it like being here as new athletes in the 8?
Vicky Opitz: It's just awesome. From a learning perspective, coming from the club system and now being on the team—I learn from everything.
Lauren Schmetterling: Stepping into the 8+, the bar is obviously set incredibly high and it has been really fun to push our limits and ourselves every day to get faster.
Opitz: Being part of a boat with such a legacy is inspiring. Our first international race together went pretty well and I can honestly say I have never gone that fast in an 8. To know that after not even a full year's worth of training we are at this level. And there is so much more room to improve and progress--that is cool!
Schmetterling: And at the same time, it's a completely new boat, except for Amanda and Caroline, and the new energy in the boat---we're really feisty people looking to do what we can do—doing our best on race day and not comparing ourselves to the boats of the past and putting out our best and knowing that it's really fast.
Polk: I completely agree with both of them, I think there is something to be said about the world record being broken in a post-Olympic year. It's usually a development year for teams, so this record is incredible. It says so much about our team. Work hard, train hard, and test our limits in the end.
row2k: In terms of boat dynamic, it takes a lot of trust. How did you learn to build up trust with a new team?
Schmetterling: We do a lot of workouts where we test ourselves on the erg and in pairs. That helps build up group trust a lot.
Polk: For me, it's on the water and off; how we all connect off the water. The trust is there, there is no doubt that the person in front or behind us is giving anything less than the best.
Lind: Trust and respect are huge, and if you feel that way about your teammates you don't have fear going into races; you know everyone is giving everything they have and that's all you can ask for. I bonded quickly with this boat. Spending time together in Lucerne really brought us closer together as we spent time together eating and spending time together outside of practice. We began to trust each other as people.
row2k: In an interview after the world record race in Lucerne, Katelin Snyder (coxswain) said that she realized at the 1000m that you were on track to break the record. What was your reaction to her call?
Polk: I just thought 'We're going to do it. I don't care what I have to do, Katelin will keep telling us what we have to do.' That's the trust. This is what pushing to the next level means. We go at it together.
row2k: From a racing and cultural aspect, what are you looking forward to regarding racing in South Korea?
Polk: The best thing to do in a new place is to just stay patient. You have to put things you can't control aside, and focus on things you can control. That means just showing up and listening to the coaches, coxswain, and staying together as a team and as a boat.
Opitz:: I am just excited to get out there and race!
Schmetterling: I am definitely looking forward to racing at my first world championships. I think going to Lucerne was incredibly helpful in getting some international racing experience with traveling and being at the course with all of these incredibly accomplished rowers, but staying focused.
row2k: What is a piece of advice you would give to younger rowers, perhaps ones with national team aspirations?
Schmetterling: You have to be confident; in yourself and what you are bringing to the table. Even though your best isn't perfect, on race day you will bring your best and that will be good. You have to have confidence in yourself. Even if it isn't happening right now, if you want it to happen, it will.
Opitz:: Don't be afraid to work hard. If you are putting in the time, and persevere, it pays off.
Polk: I am a firm believer that you get out of it what you put in, so wherever you want to take this road, you got to put in the work—but you can still have fun with that work. I like to break down my goals as to not get overwhelmed, almost like making a stairwell of goals so I can focus on doing my best every day. Don't let the highs get too high; don't let the lows get too low. Focus on what you want and do what it takes to get you there.
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