Since the remainder of the team was officially selected on June 22nd, we have been bombarded with media requests, guests at practice and team functions. So, needless to say things have been quite busy. What’s really great about the team finally being announced, aside from the big increase in attention to our sport (which is always a positive), is the sheer amount of love and support coming out of the woodwork. Rowing on the national team can be very lonely at times; you’re constantly tired, have to pass on a lot of socializing, and have to be selfish with your time, energy and emotions. For me, it was really incredible to receive so much positive attention. It made me realize that there are a lot of people who have been a part of my journey thus far and that I am very lucky.  It is easy to forget how you got to where you are and the many people who were a part of it.

As one of three first-time Olympians in our boat, I have no idea what to expect when we get there. Of course I am excited to have this opportunity and to get to race at an event like the Olympic Games, something I have dreamed of since the age of 5. But, I don’t think reality has really sunk in. Not much has changed since the initial hype ended, we are still training in Princeton and my daily routine is the same. We leave in just over one week, and while I’m not training, recovering or packing, I plan to try to enjoy every minute of these last several days before and during racing. Many of the women who have been in my position just four, eight or twelve years ago, have reached out to me and urged me to really be present. They all seem to say the same thing, that it all ends before you know it. So, even though I don’t truly feel like an Olympian just yet and there is no question that we have a job to do first and foremost when in London, this is a hugely important event in my life and always will be.

Finally, I want to make sure I recognize the many women who didn’t end up making the Olympic Team or who didn’t end selection with the result they had hoped for. I have the upmost respect for everyone, and I mean each and every person, who had the courage and fortitude to try their best no matter what the outcome turned out to be. The group at the US Training Center is an extremely competitive one and produces tough, strong and fast women as a result. There are a lot of very talented athletes who didn’t make the team, but are every bit a part of it as the people who did.

So, thank you for your love and support and we all hope to make you proud in London! Look for more updates, blog entries, videos and photos in the weeks ahead.

Go USA!

Here are some links about  and from the team:

Official Olympic Rowing roster

Megan Kalmoe’s latest blog post on the Road To London

Jamie Redman’s latest blog post on missing out on the pair, but being named a spare

Esther Lofgren’s latest blog post on making the team

Sara Hendershot’s latest blog post on her journey towards London

We’re finally home! The trip back wasn’t bad at all, we luckily escaped any real delays or malfunctions, but I always hate traveling home because I am so beyond ready to just be back. Now that we’re all home, we are trying to adjust as quickly as possible and get back to it.

The women’s team arrived in Lucerne on Sunday, May 20 just as the Olympic Qualification Regatta got underway. There was definitely an energy around the course and at the hotel from the get go. Because racing occurred so late in the day, apparently due to the fact that the volunteers (young kids) weren’t out of school until later, we trained when we could, usually all before 4:00 pm. The little volunteers were so cute, there were several who checked our bags and put up with us coming and going up to three times a session just to grab something last minute. A lot of them wore USA rowing pins too, so that was always fun to talk about. Everyone competing for the US was staying at the same hotel too (with the exception of the LW2X and the M1X), so it was nice to get a chance to see everyone again and hear how training and racing were going firsthand. 

Tuesday proved to be an exciting day, those of us not racing were glued to our computers watching the small flags inch across the screen on the World Rowing’s live feed. The W2X, LM4- and M8+ all qualified and won their respective races, so needless to say the atmosphere was electrifying and made me all the more excited to solidify our end of things. Wednesday’s finals were a bit tougher for our team, with only Gevvie Stone qualifying the W1X. It just goes to show that there really are no guarantees in this sport and that sometimes really incredible athletes don’t  even get the chance to compete at the Olympics. Once everyone who was competing at the Qualifier left, things got quieter and were back to our normal group, with the exception of Gevvie filling in one of our quads. 

Once racing started, things went by quickly. Most of pre-race time is spent holed up in the hotel, waiting around for what seems like an eternity. I always feel so much better physically and mentally once we get to race a full 2k down the course. Plus, once race day comes, the entire event becomes much more real.

The weekend posted some good results and some that we can still look to improve on. Most, if not all, other teams have already selected their Olympic teams, whereas there are still some important decisions to be made on our end. I know at least for me, I am eager to get back to work and see what is in store for the team. We’re so close! 

Until next time!

With less than 75 days until the Opening Ceremonies in London, our group is training here in Breisach, Germany before we head to Lucerne for World Cup II. We are still more than a month away from the final selection date so a lot is yet to be decided. For now we are enjoying the little town of Breisach and logging in some good miles.

We get to row on the Rhine with Germany on one side and France on the other. The German side seems to be constantly bustling with people, whereas the French side is quite empty. Plus, everyone has a dog without a leash. All different breeds roam the path alongside their owners. I am constantly so impressed with how well the dogs behave. Let me tell you, my dogs would be all over the place, jumping on people and trying to swim even though I’m pretty sure they can’t. Aside from the lush forests on either side and the mountains in the backdrop, I can’t help but notice the lack of geese. Geese are just the worst for rowing. They litter the docks (seemingly on purpose) and they somehow manage to place themselves right in front of our blades. There are quite a few swans here, but so far they stay out of our way and do look pretty. We are rowing out of Breisach Rowing Club’s boathouse and they could not be more friendly. They have a small restaurant upstairs where we lounge in between sessions and are always greeting us even though we have literally taken over the entire place.

The hotel is really great, it is situated at the top of the hill and overlooks all of Breisach. The road leading into and out of town is cobblestone, quite steep and surrounded by brick walls. I feel like we’re entering a castle every time we drive up. The rooms are spacious, we even have a patio! And the food is just awesome, especially breakfast. I, for one, absolutely love Bircher muesli and the coffee is really good, so I’m a happy camper every morning. During our down time, everyone seems to be reading a lot. While a lot of us have various forms of the latest reading technology, whether it be the Nook or iPad, I think it is beneficial to bring paper copies because then we can all switch. I’m reading Born To Run finally, which is just awesome and is motivating me to become a better if not prettier runner. Other titles include Cutting For Stone, Fifty Shades of Grey and Into Africa among others.

So, one week down and one to go before we get ready to race again. The Olympic Qualification Regatta starts just as we get to Lucerne, so we might have the opportunity to cheer on our teammates vying for Olympic spots. Best of luck to all those racing!

And, as always a huge thank you to the supporters of the NRF. This trip would definitely not be possible without you!

Well, the first part of our journey is over. Once racing started, time just flew by. By the time we raced, cooled down, recovered properly and refueled, it felt like it was already time to get ready to race again. Our hotel was only about a ten-minute bus ride away, so our post race routines ran smoothly for the most part.