Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Flash Quotes 7.25.2021

Flash Quotes

Sunday: 7.25.2021

Gevvie Stone (Newton, Mass/Princeton University)

Women's Double Sculls

"You have to place top three to race for the medals. We did that. That is the first priority. One of the guys I row with wrote us an email and said the semifinal is like the Wednesday of the work week. It's kind of true. It's really hard, and it's not the most fun race. But, we have to get through it to get to the fun part. We went out there, and we knew that we had to be tough in the headwind. It wasn't the prettiest of starts, but we were tough through that base rhythm and enjoyed every gust of headwind we got."

Kristi Wagner (Weston, Mass./Yale University)

Women's Double Sculls

"I think one thing that we did improve on from our heat to today was the second 250 (meters). I think we lost a lot in that, especially to New Zealand, in the heat, and I think today we started moving a little bit sooner. It still wasn't quite as much as we wanted, but we came into the middle 1,000 in a little bit of a better spot than Friday."

Kara Kohler (Clayton, Calif./University of California, Berkeley)

Women's Single Sculls

"I was certainly very nervous. I'll probably be very nervous for every race here, but my plan was to race for the full 2k and see how that went, so that's what I did. I don't know what they're doing (in terms of rating.) I'm just sensing them on the course. I didn't know that Sanita (Puspure) was rating higher. I guess I could've assumed that considering I was rating pretty low. That's something I want to improve on for the next race."

Michelle Sechser (Folsom, Calif./University of Tulsa)

Lightweight Women's Double Sculls

"We knew that (it was) not ideal to be in the rep. While we were confident that we (would be) able to show up and get the job done in the race this morning, there's still a lot on the line. One more mistake or not getting the right rhythm or clipping the buoys they have on the course could end the dream for us a lot sooner than expected … Getting a second run down the track for Molly and I is still a really good thing. This still is a new crew. We haven't put together an international campaign yet, so staying really positive about what we can learn each trip down the course is really going to help us."

Ellen Tomek (Flushing, Mich./University of Michigan)

Women's Quadruple Sculls

"Today, we came up a little bit short, and we were definitely disappointed. We had high expectations coming into this regatta, had some really good selection pieces and pieces as a crew and then haven't been able to put it together. I think it's really just disappointing. It's my third Olympics as well. I had really high expectations. The plan is this was my last chance at a medal and (we) didn't even make it for a shot there, so a lot of disappointment."

Meghan O'Leary (Baton Rouge, La./University of Virginia)

Women's Quadruple Sculls

"Honestly, I think it's a little bit of a shock. Ellen and I have been at it for a long time; we've certainly had our ups and downs. This feels like a pretty big down. It happens. So much about performing at the Olympics is timing, it's experience. We have a really inexperienced crew, separate from the years we've (each) put in, and when you're going against crews that have been together for years and this is what they do, it matters. I think that caught up to our crew."

Grace Luczak (Ann Arbor, Mich./Stanford University)

Women's Four

"I'm really proud of our whole boat. I think we put out a really good effort as individuals today and I feel really great walking away with this as my last Olympics and my last racing. I wouldn't have raced with four other people. I'm sure we could have benefited this year from some international races. But compared to last time, I feel so much better ending (my career) with this group of people."

Kendall Chase (Evergreen, Colo./University of California, Berkeley)

Women's Four

"We took what we learned from the heat and executed what we wanted to execute in the rep. Unfortunately, it wasn't good enough to put us in the place that we wanted to be in. But from the boat standpoint, we've definitely taken the steps forward that we wanted to. We were racing against the fastest of the fast and the best in the world and I'm proud of us. It's hard when a good race and your best isn't good enough to put you where you want to be. But, I couldn't be prouder of these women. They laid it all out there, and we still have one more race to go. We've got nothing to lose."

Madeleine Wanamaker (Neenah, Wis./University of Wisconsin)

Women's Four

…on the women's four returning to the Olympic schedule

"It's a great equalizer for women. Even though this isn't a great outcome for us, I think it's cool to be part of a historic return to the Olympics. You've got to hand it to the crews that are coming out there and doing really well. It's great to see smaller countries get their foot in the door with the women's four."