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.