University of Miami Athletics

Sarah Conlon

Class

Junior

Hometown

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

High School

Methodist Ladies College

At Miami: Two-year letter winner…competed with the varsity eight and four in 2004-05…an All-ACC Team selection… gold medalist in the championship eight at the Head of the Creek…won a gold medal in the open eight and the open quad at the Head of the Hooch…finished fourth in the varsity eight in the Women’s Cal Cup Grand Final at the San Diego Crew Classic…selected as part of the ACC Crew of the Week (4/4/04)…gold medalist in the varsity four and silver medalist in the varsity eight at the FIRA State Championships…finished fourth in the varsity eight at the ACC Championships…claimed a victory over Duke in the varsity four at Indian Creek… named to the 2004-05 ACC Academic Honor Roll …competed with the junior varsity eight and the Varsity eight in 2003-04…won team’s Most Inspirational Award in 2003-04…undefeated during the fall 2003 season…Gold medalist at both the 2003 Head of the Chattahoochee Regatta and the 2004 FIRA State Championships…Silver medalist at the 2003 San Diego Crew Classic…Bronze medalist at the 2003 BIG EAST Championships…enrolled in the School of Education. Methodist Ladies College High School: Coached by Paul Francis and Brent McDonald…first at the 2002 Australian Nationals in the Youth Quad with coxswain…first at the Quad Scull Schoolgirls…first at the 2002 Head of the School Girls and Victorian State Championships in a Quad with coxswain…second in the 2001 Australian National’s Rowing Championships in a Quad with coxswain.

 

Q&A

1. Interests and hobbies outside of Rowing: Surfing, Australian rules football, singing, the beach, socializing with my mates!

2. Why did you choose the University of Miami? Being an Australian, I thought it would be an amazing experience,Also, I think it will be interesting seeing how rowing is portrayed from a different country.

3.What was your first impression of Miami? Hot and HUMID! The university itself looked beautiful and the environment created by the students was very friendly.

4. Who is your favorite athlete, Why? Cary Ablett: An Australian footballer,his perfection in the sport is to be admired also his courage and motivation is something to be inspired by.

5. Why did you start rowing? It looked like a lot of fun and my sister rowed for school so the coaches already knew me and wanted me to row, although mainly because it did look like a lot of fun.

6. When did you start rowing? 1998-1999 (school rowing) when I was 13 years old.

7. What challenges did/do you face as a novice rower? Dealing with the competitiveness of everyone within your own class all trying to succeed for the best boat, but knowing only 4 (quad) people would get in!

8. What changes have you recently made to improve your rowing technique? Focusing more of the feel of the boat, learning what it feels like to row the perfect stroke.

9. What is your best rowing memory? Winning Head of the Schoolgirls, as it was that race that we had been wanting to win for over two years!

10. Would you ever consider rowing as a “life sport”? Absolutely!I think it is a fantastic sport for all ages and it provides great fitness and social activities as well.

11. Any superstitions before regattas? Depends. . . but generally no, although I do have lucky undies!

12. What advice would you give young people? I’d tell them to do what you love, set high goals and achieve them, and most importantly to smile! I believe it is the best thing you can do. Last but not least, seize the day because you only live once.

13. What did you do this summer? I played on an Australian Rules Football team (Surrey Park), worked with children and had many, many laughs with my mates.

14. What are your goals at Miami both in sports and outside sports? To learn about surviving on my own, to make decisions by myself and to make many friends; I want to learn rowing to improve standard, and learn more about the sport, and also to see and compare how different training and life is here to the Australian way.