olympic rowing

To meet SimulatOar inventor Calvin Coffey is to appreciate his creativity, drive, and his love of life & rowing. Our USRowing Convention interviews continued on Sunday, Feb. 5 with Coffey and his wife, Maggie. Calvin competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics, where he and his partner Mike Staines won the silver medal in the coxless pairs event. A few years later, after a devastating car accident, he invented the rowing simulation machine, SimulatOar (best product name ever!). He also made CTC racing shells, and pioneered the use of composite materials in rowing equipment. Coffey continues to make his machines to order, one-by-one, in his home basement shop. Watch the livestream replay on our YouTube channel - at the end of the interview, when our producer tests out the machine under the expert tutelage of the inventor!

Many thanks to our fabulous sponsors:

• Burnham Boat Slings - mention the podcast at a regatta for some Burnham swag!
• Resolute Racing & Sykes USA - our producer rows a LW Sykes - try it out on the Charles River!
• GoodInklings Web Design & Management - mention the podcast for a free website audit!
• Pierce Press Publishing & Podcasting - wholesale discounts to 55% for podcast listeners!

Catch the livestream & replays on our YouTube channel & subscribe on your favorite podcast apps: Spotify, Google, Apple, Stitcher, SoundCloud, & more! If you like what you hear, consider subscribing, reviewing, and like, comment, & share!

To be honest, he was a moving target at USRowing Convention, between attending sessions and announcing for the National Indoor Championships, but we finally caught up with Aquil Abdullah, truly a mover & shaker in the sport of rowing.

Among other things, we learned that after "winding down" from the Olympic experience, Aquil was settling into a career in high tech when he was drawn back into the rowing world by taking a job as a Hydrow athlete; an invitation to become a Henley Royal Regatta Steward; and collaborations with A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, new boathouses, and other projects centered around expanding the sport of rowing.

Many thanks to our fabulous sponsors:

• Burnham Boat Slings - mention the podcast at a regatta for some Burnham swag!
• Resolute Racing & Sykes USA - our producer rows a LW Sykes - try it out on the Charles River!
• GoodInklings Web Design & Management - mention the podcast for a free website audit!
• Pierce Press Publishing & Podcasting - wholesale discounts to 55% for podcast listeners!

Catch the livestream & replays on our YouTube channel & subscribe on your favorite podcast apps: Spotify, Google, Apple, Stitcher, SoundCloud, & more! If you like what you hear, consider subscribing, reviewing, and like, comment, & share!

#rowingpodcast

Joining the conversation will be John Thornell, head of Stonington Community Rowing and girls head coach @stoningtoncrew, who has been working closely with Jim Dietz since he came on board the project earlier this year.

"When we complete the Jim Dietz Rowing Center in early 2024, we will be able expand from a competitive junior team of 50-60 kids to offer a range of programs to younger and older people," Thornell said. "Middle-school kids will see a path to row in high school. High school rowers will see alumni (rowing in college) return for summers. It will open up coaching opportunities for those alumni, too. Younger rowers will also see masters rowers and know that this is a lifelong sport for them. It'll be a multi-use center, with a rowing component of up to 500 members." 

Join Fergus Sherwood as he interviews victorious medalists and ANU Students - Luke Letcher and Caleb Antill - on their Tokyo journey. Part 1 is about fun at Tokyo.  Tune in for Part 2, for more details regarding their diet, training, and routine. 

Fewer than a dozen people have broken 5:40 in rowing. Olympian Tom George is one of them. Tom accomplished the feat during lockdown, while training on a rowing machine in his parents shed. A year later, he has his sights firmly set on winning gold for Great Britain in Tokyo. He joins Mike Lombardi to discuss making rowing history (2:36), staying calm in the moment (9:59), being accountable to teammates (14:50), strain and sleep (19:50), nutrition (25:56), managing red recoveries (31:49), how he increases recovery (36:33), the upcoming Olympics (43:53), and training for Tokyo (48:06).

Ep.16 It's very apt that I should have the amazing Pete Reed on the show this week, as things are really ramping up for the Race the Thames challenge which starts on 22nd March. Pete is front and centre of the fundraising, alongside his former crewmate Andy Triggs Hodge (who I interviewed a few weeks ago here) with his Paravengers team.

For those who don't know him, Pete is a three-time Olympic rowing champion (and multiple World Champion), as well as a Commander in the Royal Navy. In 2019 he suffered a spinal stroke, out of the blue, which paralysed him from the waist down, and since then he's been in rehab.

He spoke extensively and candidly to Sir Matthew Pinsent about the stroke and life in the immediate aftermath in a brilliant BBC interview, which you can find on BBC Sounds, so I left that aspect of Pete's life in Matthew's capable hands. Instead, Pete and I chat about:

• Where he is now and life in rehab
• Developing an attitude to cope with change and uncertainty
• What Pete finds most difficult - managing people's expectations
• Whether a rowing coach or a rehab physio is a harder taskmaster
• How being an athlete prepared the way for his current challenges
• Strength of character - nature or nurture
• Life in a wheelchair -  the dos and don'ts when you meet someone in a chair
• Photography and approaching people for portraits
• The progress of his rehab
• *GOTR exclusive* - his new role with the Royal Navy
• Building ethical fitness
• Rowing in a pair with Andrew Triggs Hodge
• Race the Thames

You can support Pete and his Paravengers crew in Race the Thames here.

The crowdfunder started by Andy Triggs Hodge to help Pete to afford basic adaptations and equipment is here.

US Rowing Convention Kick-Off Podcast As part of our continued collaboration with USRowing, Ready, Row! USA connected with Samantha Wonderlin, USRowing’s Membership Marketing Specialist, and Sarah McAulifffe, USRowing’s Senior Event Manager, to discuss the upcoming 2020 Virtual Convention. Wonderlin and McAuliffe took us behind the scenes at the upcoming USRowing Convention - what to see, who to *virtually* connect with. We heard about keynote speakers, get a side-by-side comparison of 2019 vs. 2020 tracks, and preview the restored diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) track. These intrepid convention organizers gave us a first-hand account of how it was to pivot and plan the first Virtual Convention. We wrapped up with an assessment of how USRowing has changed its "mindset" and messaging for activities and events during the pandemic and beyond!

PRODUCTION LINKS:

• Pierce Press Productions
• Ready, Row! USA Facebook
• Ready, Row! USA Twitter
• Ready, Row! USA Instagram
• Arlington Community Media, Inc.
• Submit Club News
• Submit Gadgets & Gear

All video, audio, and text content under Ready, Row! USA or ReadyRowUSA is the property of  Pierce Press (PiercePress.com). All rights reserved. lease contact the publisher for permissions & underwriting opportunities.

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For the record, here's what the A&W and Darth Vader (The Imperial March) theme songs actually sound like.

Here's the incredible Dateline Documentary about Adam and his crew's attempt to row across the Ocean from Africa to Florida. They capsized in the Bermuda Triangle.

"You have to pay the tax if you want to have these divine experiences." -Adam

Adam's Stats: 2.5% (sublime) 2.5% (terror) 95% (Monotony/ Boredom)

Adam's friend Markus Pukonen is currently circumnavigating the Globe without a motor... in a row boat! Follow him here! Routes for Change.

Our discussion on poop was on point. And here's the point.

Adam's excellent book, 'The Responsibility Ethic,' means we have the ability to choose our response.

If you don't like the idea of stumbling down a mountain while chasing green ferries and waking up in a cardboard box, perhaps Absinthe isn't the drink for you.

Adam's British accent was a surprising addition to this episode. "Do you want to win a gold medal Adam?"

Team Canada's crushing loss in Athens was nearly the end of Adam's rowing career. He managed to rise up and win Gold 4 years later in Beijing.

Check out Adam's excellent YouTube Channel where you can see videos of his amazing career as an Olympic Athlete, Open Ocean Explorer, TED talk and his current career as a World Class Coach, Speaker and Author.

The great Ron MacLean talking about the importance of Adam's spontaneous singing of Oh Canada and what it meant to the nation.

Cocaine is more dangerous (and more expensive) than prayer. -Adam

Andrew's wholesome sense of humour is adorable. That said, I think I speak for everyone when I say, Dough Not make those jokes anymore.

Unfortunately, incest porn is a real thing. Be warned. Shame traps people in unhealthy addictions. Fundamentalist religion often creates these unhealthy states.

The difference between guilt and shame is this: Shame means I am bad, Guilt means my behaviour is bad. Both are unhelpful and should be avoided. Like doughnuts.

Adam's use of the word, "doughnut," broke all previous uses of the word on our podcast. If there was a gold medal for this... well.. he deserves it.

The Power of Habit is a fantastic book that can transform your relationship with your life.

Tim Bits of Wholeness. Coming soon to a better you.

Did we mention Adam has an incredible book called The Responsibility Ethic? Get your copy today!

Adam's website is the resource you need to get to the next level.

If you're looking for more details on Adam's ocean adventure, check out the Dateline Documentary or pick up his book and read his account.

Adam gifted us with signed copies of his book. "To the Obstacles... may they always be there." Amen.

You have 2 choices. Sit and eat doughnuts or set sail. Let's set sail!

Erin Cafaro is a former 2x Olympic gold medalist in the Women's 8+ in rowing, and the co-creator of the humbled podcast. After winning gold at the 2008 and again at the 2012 Olympics, Erin went on to build a career in the sports performance industry. On the surface, she appeared to be thriving, but internally she was struggling with her addiction to ‘health’ and demons of her past. Erin gives an incredibly candid view of an Olympic Champion’s ascent up the mountain and walk down the mountain after retiring from professional athletics. Erin offers some nuggets of advice on strategies to recover, adapt and thrive once again.

For more information about Humbled, check out the Humbled website at www.humbledpodcast.com. 

If you want to catch up with Kristin and Erin, check out our personal Instagrams @erincafaro & @kharaldsdottir.
Thank you as always to our incredible podcast editor, Corey Schreppel! @coreyschreppel