News-Record.com

Saturday, Aug. 23

Here I am sitting in the USA athlete lounge checking email and getting ready to go see volleyball at 12:30. I just saw an American women's 1500 meter runner in here -we met on the bus last night coming back from track and field. She has her finals tonight around seven. She is a Duke alum!

I am still in shock from our victory. I believed in my heart that we could do it, and we did. However, the real gravity of this experience, being at the Olympics and winning a gold medal, does not sink in all at once. The impact expresses itself in ways different than you might expect. Obviously there are the congratulations from friends and family. I think most of the girls on the team have each gotten hundreds of congratulatory emails, and it is really cool to hear from all the supporters. That is one of the things I told my team before the final: to remember the complete support of people in all parts of the USA. Whole states and hometowns are behind us, rooting for us. And I think we used that energy and excitement to help propel us down the course ahead of Romania!

The Chinese locals Love Love Love medals, and they do not really care who you are or if they have seen you before - if they see your medal then you are an instant celebrity! I took mine out at the Synchronized Swimming event the other day just very discreetly to show my sister’s friend and all of the sudden people started taking pictures and wanting autographs. One person was like "swimming?" and I said “No, rowing!” But it is really cool to have the community that excited about everyone.

At the track and field event last night the Chinese citizens did not just cheer for the Chinese but for everyone. They cheered for victories and for the near misses. It was amazing how most people seemed to be truly touched and excited for everyone, for the incredibility of the Olympics. I was sitting with my teammate Elle at “athletics” which is what they call track and field, and we were only four rows from the field, we got in with our athlete credentials, and we both got chills as we saw victories and felt the power of the Olympics. It was a great experience.

The best was to cheer for other Americans. Bryan Clay was the champion in the decathlon, and although he was up by a ridiculous amount in points going into the 1500 meter run I still cheered for him every time he ran around the track at the back of the pack. He finished last in the run, but since he was up by 500 point he still won. When he ran his victory lap Elle and I got right up close and gave him a huge cheer and when he saw fellow Americans and athletes he gave us a special nod. Now my goal is to find him in the village and congratulate him.

This truly has been the experience of a lifetime, and there are so many other amazing things that have happened, but I can’t write them all now. Before, I did not understand why everyone said the Olympics are different from world championships, but they are.

Oh and our race! So much has happened since that race. Afterward our coach asked us:

"You guys remember what I said about the Olympics being just another race?”

“Yeah,” we said.

“That was a lie,” he said. “It’s totally different."

And he was right. I really had to keep it in perspective and trick my body into thinking it was a regular race at the starting line for the final to keep my nerves at bay, but afterward it was clear the magnitude of what we had just achieved. The first U.S. rowing women to win gold since 1984, and the first time ever since the race has been bumped up from 1000 to 2000 meters.

Thanks to everyone in Greensboro and around the country who have helped me from my days at Wiley Elementary and the city swim meets through the amazing support wishes just a few days ago. I really appreciate Greensboro for being a great place to grow up, and I seriously can’t wait to come home in a few days. It has been too long. Thanks again to everyone who has helped me along the way!