The Long Road....

The long road to London

By Derek O'Farrell, Men's Four

It has been a long journey, that’s for sure, but it is certainly not over. Although I have been racing on the National Team for six years, when I get to the start line at Dorney Lake I will be wearing the maple leaf at my first Olympic Games. There are only two weeks remaining before athletes from all over the world gather at the opening ceremonies, and yet amongst all the excitement and hype surrounding the Games, I often find myself thinking about the 72 months that got me here. 

At 87 kgs I am the lightest guy on the team. This has always been the case in my national team career, and being smaller has shaped my development over the years. Without natural power and size, I’ve had to focus on the finer things in rowing: rhythm and blade-work. It has taken a long time to develop these skills but with six long winters of rowing on Elk Lake under my belt I feel like I am ready to compete against the biggest and best rowers from all over the world. At the Olympic Games, that is exactly what I get to do.

 We have all heard about Andre Agassi and his confession that he hates tennis. I’m not saying I hate rowing but I can relate to what Agassi is talking about. Training to compete against the best in the world is not easy. There are many dark days. The winters are wet and cold, and sometimes seem infinite. But it was during these days that I flourished. Showing up to practice every day and working as hard as I could has made me not only better at rowing but mentally tough, and at this level a strong mental will can make all the difference.

 This past year has been quite different than the previous five. A new coach and new program has altered my outlook on training and how to maximize performance, but the end goal remains the same; standing on the podium at the Olympics. Integrated into our program this year is a heavy emphasis on sport science. Cutting edge altitude protocol for example, has realized serious fitness gains for myself as well as my teammates.

 I am so excited to race and represent Canada at the Olympics that sometimes I can’t sit still. This hype is compounded by send off dinners, trying on team kit, and reading emails of support. But I know the journey is not over. I still have to leave six years of blood and sweat on the racecourse. This is why I spend so much time thinking about the past, reminding myself that I have done everything I can to reach my goal.

Final Days of Prep!

 
By Lesley Thompson-Willie, Eight-time Olympian 

As we head into the final three weeks of preparation for the 2012 Olympics we are fielding questions whether we are excited for the upcoming games.  There can and will be different responses depending on when the question is asked.  If asked immediately after a taxing 20km row, where we are trying to keep that precarious balance between volume and heavy intensity training, and in the searing heat that London, ON is experiencing right now, one of the seriously fatigued women might reply, “I am focusing on each day, each workout, and each stroke. There is still work to be done.  It is one step at a time.”   At that particular moment and circumstance I don’t think anyone has the capacity to think beyond how to get recovered for the next workout which will be under way 90 minutes later.

Despite being focused on “now”, and before looking ahead to the excitement of our Olympic racing, I am reflecting on the work that has been completed to get us to this station in our Olympic journey.  Over the past four years of this Olympic cycle, we have worked to produce an efficient rowing stroke. Under the masterful eyes of our coaches they have looked to bring the right combination of women together to apply that perfected stroke around 240 times over 2000 meters; with maximum effort and as one unit, to be delivered under the pressure and thrill of elite level racing.

We have invested thousands of hours in long distance training.  We have worked through the warm days of fall, the snow storms of December, and the freezing rain in April.  The additional training sessions in our weight room have produced significant strength gains.  The application of “killer” core circuit training has enhanced our resilience and stamina.  The years of racing at the world championship level have tested our mental and physical boundaries.  Each year has been a cumulative building block for the next.  

I have looked to my teammates, those that have been through more than one Olympic cycle, their training base and experiences as well as the younger ones who challenge the veterans and make us smile with their enthusiasm.  I see and feel a national rowing team that goes well beyond us.  The team that I see includes all of our national crews, our coaches, medical staff, administration, our families, friends of rowing, the Canadian sport system, and Canadians amongst others.   

As the Olympics approach closer with each passing day, we embrace the knowledge and confidence we have gained from the dedicated work completed over the last four years.  We take our rowing shell down to the water each morning with an agenda to push harder and smarter than the day before. Each step is calculated, measured and remembered.  It is this commitment that fuels our excitement, propels our crew, and drives us towards greater achievement.

Is there an optimal time to ask your heartfelt question, “Are you excited for the upcoming Games?” Perhaps just before our Olympic heat. Of course we will be focusing on the race but the answer would be a resounding, “Yes, we have been looking forward to it for years, and we are now ready to go. Thank you for asking!”

The Stamp of Approval

by Peter Cookson
It was a proud moment last week.  Our  2012 Canadian Olympic Rowing Team was announced and to top it off, Canada Post introduced a new stamp that celebrated our sport. Canada Post made the decision to honour rowing on their 2012 stamp based on "the consistent excellence displayed by the Canadian (Rowing) Team and their perceived strength heading into London this summer."  

And so it is with this team: a team of excellence and strength. Of the 30 athletes named to the team, almost half have previous Games experience. There are medalists, finalists and strong proven performers on this team.  It is a team that will represent our country proudly and will do their utmost to maintain our position as Canada's top summer Olympic team by bringing home the medals.  It is a team we can all be proud of from the way they perform and  the manner is which they handle themselves in their pursuit of excellence.   

Here are some photos on Facebook!

Here is our 2012 Canadian Olympic Rowing Team:  

Women's 8+:
Ashley Brzozowicz (London, ON)
Janine Hanson (Winnipeg, MB)
Krista Guloien (Port Moody, BC)
Darcy Marquardt (Richmond, BC)
Natalie Mastracci (Thorold, ON)
Andreanne Morin (Montreal, QC)
Cristy Nurse (Georgetown, ON)
Lesley Thompson-Willie (London, ON)
Rachelle Viinberg (Regina, SK)
Lauren Wilkinson (North Vancouver, BC)

Men's 2-:
David Calder (Victoria, BC)
Scott Frandsen (Kelowna, BC)

Men's 2x:
Michael Braithwaite (Duncan, BC)
Kevin Kowalyk (Winnipeg, MB)

Men's 4-:
William Dean (Kelowna, BC)
Anthony Jacob (Vancouver, BC)
Derek O'Farrell (Montreal, QC)
Michael Wilkinson (North Vancouver, BC)

Men's 8+:
Gabe Bergen (100 Mile House, BC)
Jeremiah Brown (Cobourg, ON)
Andrew Byrnes (Toronto, ON)
Will Crothers (Kingston, ON)
Douglas Csima (Oakville, ON)
Robert Gibson (Kingston, ON)
Malcolm Howard (Victoria, BC)
Conlin McCabe (Brockville, ON)
Brian Price (Belleville, ON)

Lightweight Women's 2x:
Lindsay Jennerich (Victoria, BC)
Patricia Obee (Victoria, BC)

Lightweight Men's 2x:
Morgan Jarvis (Winnipeg, MB)
Douglas Vandor (Dewittville, QC)