Light, Camera, Action
Over the last decade, Kevin Light’s will to win – fueled by Olympic gold (2008) and three World
Championship titles (2002, 2003, 2007) – earned him a spot amongst the 2010 Top 10 male rowers.
Light is the first Canadian male rower to be included in
the Top 10 since its recent inception – a rare distinction
in what has so far been more of an elite list of European
scullers or Australian sweepers who have been able to
extend their rowing careers longer than most North
American men.
While Light has seen changes occur in the sport over
the last decade, such as the use of GPS bow markers
and a new race schedule at the Olympic Games, the
one thing that stands out as unchanged is the will of
the athletes to win and excel. “The same qualities that
helped us win the eight in 2002 were the same qualities
that helped us win in 2008 – and that won’t ever change.”
The award brightened Light’s less than sweet 2010
season, plagued by injury and illness. “2010 was a hard
year because I was not at the level I knew was necessary
to win,” says Light, who finished sixth in the B-final in
the men’s four.
The lessons from his coach, Mike Spracklen, have
molded him into an Olympic Champion and instilled in
him the belief that “if I really, really, want to do something,
there is nothing in the world I can’t do.”
© Rowing Canada Aviron
Following a break in 2009 to complete photography
school, the 32-year-old was one of three heavyweight
men to return from Canada’s gold-winning men’s
eight in Beijing. Retirement isn’t in his sights. “For me
winning an Olympic gold medal was not a good enough
reason to retire. When I retire from rowing I want it to be
because I want to retire from rowing,” says Light, whose
passion for rowing has been supplemented by his artful
eye for capturing the sport’s emotion and scenery on
camera. Light’s unique photography has been included
in the World Rowing e-Magazine, Rowing News, on
www.row2k.com and in other sports publications.
