Michelle Guerette
(USA)
Like all American university rowers, sweep
rowing was de rigueur and Guerette was
part of the large squad of sweep rowers
competing to be in the Olympic eight. At the
end of 2003 she was moved to a quad sculling
group. “Sculling was much more comfortable
for me than sweeping. I did, however, have
mixed feelings because I knew there was not
much time to make the change, but I also was
aware it was a better match.” Guerette made
the cut and raced at the Athens Olympics in
the women’s quad, finishing fifth.
has watched Katrin Rutschow-Stomporowski
(GER) race to gold in Athens more times than
she can count. She admires Mahe Drysdale’s
(NZL) consistency and professionalism as a
competitor, citing his 2006 World Champion
performance as tremendous. Americans
Steve Tucker and team-mate Caryn Davies
also have gained Guerette’s admiration.
four years has been different - certainly my
concept of volume has changed. I remember
when 12km felt like a long row.”
The post-Beijing reception back in the United
States was more than Guerette expected.
“Everyone was curious about the Games
and China. Our team made several television
appearances. We were even on the Oprah
Winfrey Show. But the nicest was returning
to my hometown. My family, most of whom
did not travel to Beijing, were so excited, or
maybe they just wanted to know if I’d met
Michael Phelps.”
7
“The race was a tunnel,
with the noise of the
After Athens, Guerette started rowing the
single out of necessity. “I was working full-time and the single was a good way to
continue training on my own. It was for fun
at first but as the year progressed I did get
curious about the possibility of racing it
internationally.”
crowd closing in and the
finish line approaching.”
– Michelle Guerette,
16 August 2008
Just a short year later Guerette lined up at the
Gifu 2005 World Rowing Championships in
the single. She finished third. “It was surprising,”
says Guerette. “I hadn’t raced internationally
that year until the Worlds. The few months
before Gifu were a very big push and I was
nervous. I was realistic, but hopeful as well.”
Guerette is suitably reserved about her future
rowing intentions. “I remember reading about
Sir Steve Redgrave having retired multiple
times. That makes sense to me. I think you
need to step away for a little while if you want
to have passion for the next round.” Guerette
is also aware that sculling in the USA is going
to continue to improve especially now that
all national team rowers are expected to
learn to scull.
But Guerette owns up: “I know it would be
very hard to watch everyone line up at the
Worlds from my computer screen.”
With her new-found skill in the single Guerette
looked to other rowers for inspiration. She
With Charley Butt as her coach, Guerette says
the lead up to Beijing was quite different
from her pre-Athens preparation. “After
Athens, I felt that more mastery on my part
would have helped us. I was strong and fit
but, in retrospect, not skilled or comfortable
enough. Beijing was different. I felt like I had
the opportunity to make my rowing fast
and controlled. The training over the past
