Miami Rowers Meet Olympic Gold Medalist
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Olympic Gold-medalist Esther Lofgren visited and spoke at the Miami Beach Rowing Club on Wednesday where members of the University of Miami’s rowing team had a chance to meet the champion.
Lofgren presented to a large group ranging in age and rowing category; from high school to university and junior to master. She spoke about her story, the Olympics, and most importantly, motivation.
The University of Miami’s rowing team heard about the event via Twitter and quickly hustled to their boat house that afternoon with special permission from their head coach, Andrew Carter.
“Meeting her is a once in a life time opportunity,” said junior Maggie Fragel. “I absolutely love her, she’s my biggest inspiration.”
Lofgren, originally from California, attended Harvard University where she graduated with an economics degree in 2009. Her parents, Karl and Christine Lofgren, were also esteemed United States rowers.
After graduation, she joined the USA National Training Center in Princeton, N.J. She told the group about the multiple international events she has competed at and the highs, lows and injuries along the way. She is the first woman to win two championship events at the Royal Henley Regatta in the eight and quadruple sculls, which makes her the first person since 1963 according to USA Rowing.
Prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Lofgren was the last woman cut from the eight that went on to win gold. She won a spot in the 2012 London eight that set a new world record at the 2012 Samsung World Cup and won Gold at the Olympics in August.
After her visit to the Miami Beach Rowing Club, she is preparing to train for an international regatta in Australia with the national team.
When sophomore Hannah Hawks asked if she was going to stay in Miami and row, Lofgren said, “My coach asked me why I was in Miami. This was actually a quick secret vacation for me. This is paradise though. Your team really gets to row in paradise.”
The University of Miami Women’s rowing team opens their spring season on March 9.
