By Shawn Hutchinson
Students can take a
year off from school for a variety of reasons. For Nicole Hare, that
reason is to train with the senior team for Rowing Canada, the
nation’s national governing body for the sport. That year off could
lead her to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, should she be
selected for the Olympic team in June.
“I started with
the U-23 team in 2012 and participated in the Canadian nationals,”
Hare said. “My performance there allowed me to get into U-23 camp,
and I’ve been competing for Canada every summer since.”
It’s not every day
that there’s a potential Olympian at Washington State University.
Hare has gotten to this level with the help of WSU rowing coach Jane
LaRiviere, who allowed her to participate in the U-23 camp.
At WSU, the junior
studies marketing and management, and has a certificate in leadership
as well. She plans on completing her degrees in the next academic
year.
Hare started rowing
at 12 years old in her hometown of Calgary, Alberta, Canada at the
Calgary Rowing Club.
“I joined the
junior program there, and I’ve been rowing ever since,” Hare
said.
Hare said rowing for
the Cougars has been a great experience for her.
“Going from a
junior level to a collegiate level is an extreme jump,” Hare said.
“There’s great support at WSU, both from the athletic community
and the university as a whole. I was inspired by a lot of the
leaders, and I want to row for the rest of my life.”
Training is a
critical part of being an elite rower, and Hare spends a lot of time
practicing to keep her career going.
“At school, I
would do the prescribed training program, plus an extra 10 to 12
hours each week individually,” Hare said. “Now, we’re training
three times a day, every day. We only get Sundays off, and it’s
quite intense. You can’t have a job or go to school because it
would take up too much time.”
The selection for
the Canadian Olympic team is not until June, but Hare has thought a
bit about what participating in the games would be like.
“It would be a
huge accomplishment, and there would be so many emotions,” Hare
said. “Confidence, nerves, excitement. A little bit of everything.”
The Rio Olympics, to
be played in August, are not without controversy. Media reports have
indicated high levels of pollution in the water used for aquatic
sports. The mosquito-borne Zika virus is also a concern for female
athletes who might want to start a family after the Olympics. Hare
said part of this is built up by the media to be a bigger issue than
it actually is.
“There are safety
precautions that the Canadian team is taking,” Hare said.
Regarding the
pollution, Hare said the rowing team is less affected because they
are not submerged in the water. For the Zika virus, Hare said there’s
not much else that the team can do other than being prepared for the
risks and hoping for the best.
Hare said she sees
herself potentially going for her master’s degree in the future.
She also would like to continue with the national team.
“The lifestyle is
unique,” Hare said. “It can be stressful, but it’s also fun.
I’d like to come back and train with the senior team in the
future.”
For aspiring
athletes, Hare had a piece of advice.
“Work hard, work
smart, and most importantly, love what you do,” Hare said. “Don’t
let the passion for it get away from you.”
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