It is always a long and interesting journey to become an Olympic athlete. How did you get involved with rowing?
Rowing started at a late stage at my high school,
Willowridge. I was curious about this sport, but never gave it attention. Years
later, I found myself as an aupair in Seattle, looking for something to get my
cultural exchange credits; and rowing counted as credits. So I took up a learn
to row class. Four years later, after many unexpected turns in my life, such as
losing my job, and a family death, did I dedicate myself full time to rowing,
that would lead me on a 10 year, all-in focus towards becoming an Olympic
athlete.
How
did you find out that you were going to the Olympics?
It was never announced or made a fuss of. Rowing is a
very humbling sport, so you keep your head down and do the work. Selections are
kept till the last stages, so you are never really sure.
You
arrive at the Olympic Village with international superstars? Tell us about
that?
It was awesome. To have the greats practicing tennis
on the courts right as you walk to your hotel. The gym packed with gymnasts and
weight lifters. The Jamaican sprinters bounding in the walkways.
Boxers sparing in the recreational skateboard bowls and all these athletes
with all their country’s cool athletic gear, speaking all these languages buzz
and hum together in the dining hall that was the size of 2 rugby fields
open 24 hours.
You
made the finals in your event. What was going through your mind seconds before
the start?
Let's do what we do. This is going to be great. Then
we look at each other and say: “Ready?" “Ready!"
You
came 5th overall. That is amazing. What goes through your mind when
its all over?
That was not so amazing, for my expectation was gold or a
medal at second best. But when it was over, I was stunned. How did we
under-perform like that? And there was no other chance to do it again... I
thought about the center of the universe swallowing me whole and making
this disbelief disappear. And then I cried in agony for hours
and hours, (while being drug-tested) like a bad dream that I couldn’t wake up
from.
You
have been extremely lucky to live and compete in different parts of the world?
What have learnt from the different cultures and lifestyles?
I have lived and trained in many countries, but found
the lifestyle of an athlete quite similar. The cultural differences
don’t seem so different then. Just the way they say it, or hearing it in a
different language perhaps. But training is training, and whether its in Turkey
or Spain, there is going to be water, a boat, oars and a program. So you learn
to adjust quickly and settle in to the new environments, in order to
perform and be at your best game over and over again.
Are
you still rowing at the moment?
Yes, with my last monies I bought a boat. Probably
should have been smarter with that money, to help set me up in business or a
house. But instead, I have a really nice boat, that I row as
recreationally as I can. Yet, always wanting to go back and do it again, but
also knowing its time to exercise that exit strategy.
You
have always been a big promoter of woman’s sport in this country? Why do you
think the country is failing to produce world class sportswoman at the moment?
I think its because of what you see more often. That
becomes what you believe is your normal. So if you see more men playing sports
on TV such as rugby or cricket matches, you assume sports careers are for men
and not women. As another example of this: there are much more losers than
winners in Lottery, but because only the winners are given media
attention, that is what you see and therefore what you believe as truth,
is that you win when you buy a lottery ticket. So without more women sports
media coverage, the spark won’t be ignited for girls to pursue sports on a
world class stage.
What
is the biggest lesson you have learnt from being an elite athlete?
I have learnt to be humbled over and over again; and
results don’t always reward the hard work and determination you deserve. But
that your confidence needs to remain a rock unmoved and unshaken. And you need
to forge on, with an ever open heart, keeping true to loving what you do.
