Rowing organization chooses Augusta, Aiken to train for Olympics

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – There are 1,000,000 alternative ways to start out the day. For the previous six weeks, these post-collegiate rowers have been beginning their mornings by pushing off the docks at Langley Pond.

Veronica Nicacio says, “It’s been actually enjoyable. We respect not being within the adverse temperatures.”

Megan Goodman says, “In Upstate New York, it freezes over strong within the winter, and also you get the ice fishers they usually snow mobilers as an alternative of the rowers.”

Lauren Miller says, Having the ability to be out right here in mid-January, mid-February and have the ability to get on the water, and simply have enjoyable and work arduous together with your workforce means the world.”

All of those rowers are part of the ARION program, in any other case generally known as the Superior Rowing Initiative of the Northeast. They’re coaching proper right here within the CSRA to at some point be part of Staff USA and compete within the Olympics.

Coach Eric Catalano stated, “The group has simply been superb. I imply we walked into the YMCA searching for a spot to raise, they usually welcomed us with open arms.”

There are lower than 30 whole spots for rowing on Staff USA. So to make the reduce, the every day grind for these Olympic hopefuls is intense.

Miller says “You race for, one, two, three, 4 instances out of a 12 months, the remainder of its simply coaching.”Coach Catalano stated, “For instance, a day without work for these guys is a three-hour bike experience.”

Goodman says, “We spend plenty of day off the water doing coaching, and restoration, and bodily remedy, and vitamin, and issues like that.”

Embracing the mentality of getting higher day by day has helped them develop as a workforce, and as particular person athletes, and is bringing them nearer to reaching their targets.

Nicacio says, “It’s cool to use the stuff you study within the sports activities to your actual life, and that’s a part of the rationale why I’m nonetheless doing this. Not only for, you realize the concept of going to the Olympics is superb, but when I am going there and I’m no more as an individual, then I don’t suppose it might’ve been value it.”

ARION was created again in 2016, and since then six members from this program have made it to the World Championships, and one certified for the Olympics in Tokyo.

Goodman says, “We’re those who’re out right here on the water day by day placing within the work, however we are able to’t do it with out household and associates and group, and assist and it has been no totally different right here in Augusta. We’re simply actually, grateful that we get to indicate up and do that. That is the workplace and it’s a reasonably cool workplace to be at each morning.”

On the finish of this week, ARION shall be heading right down to Sarasota, Florida, to compete within the Winter Pace Order. The outcomes of that occasion will rank all the high rowers across the nation. As soon as these rankings shave been introduced, some rowers will obtain invitations to camps.

At these camps, they’ll have the chance to work out for the precise to earn a spot on Staff USA.

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