Alumni at the Olympics

While most Exonians struggle day in and day out to balance an intense workload, time-consuming extracurriculars and their social life, alumnus Mahlon Bradley ‘75, as a prep, managed to handle the 1972 Figure Skating Olympic Trials as well.Bradley is among many alumni who have participated and coached in The Olympic Games. After arriving at Exeter and cultivating their talent, these dedicated athletes pursued and strived for the glory of being the best in the sport while also fighting to maintain their regular day lives.“I had started rowing before I came to The Academy, but my career definitely blossomed while I was at Exeter,” Andre- anne Morin ‘00, who rowed in Canada’s eight-boat for three Games, said. “It was difficult to juggle sports and academics, and Exeter for me was a great way to get a fulfilling academic adventure while also acquiring an incredible team experience that I didn’t have back at home.”Although the honors of success in competitive games are unforgettable and inspiring, Olympians must devote them- selves to their sport in a way that interferes with daily life.“After my junior year at Princeton, I had to take a leaveof absence for time trials and team selections of the 2004 Olympics,” Morin said. “You have to put in the effort and the time. Any given week we would row roughly 140 miles and we would have 17 workouts a week, so it is a huge time commit- ment. You also have to be well fed, rested and healthy.”Conditioning for the games may be quite difficult, but many find peace and relaxation during the process.Jonathan Smith ‘79, who also competed in three Olym- pics for rowing, said. “I trained approximately 355 days per year while I was preparing for the Olympic Team. This daily exercise for the National Team and for the Olympic Team gave me order and helped me prioritize all facets of my life,” Smithsaid.He continued. “Obviously, I learned how to work extreme- ly hard and became very proud of my ability to bury myself in a workout. But, I also learned how to relax, how to calm the mind, how to roll with changes that pop up at the most inop- portune times, and how to call upon my training at the right times.”In addition, the involvement in The Games seems to be a beautiful, life-changing event, one that more than makes up for all the pain and suffering of reaching that point.“It was an amazing and overwhelming experience to compete in the Olympics, and I was filled with pride to be able to represent my country on the world's stage,” rower Georgia Gould ‘98 said of the 2012 Olympics. “Winning a medal wassurreal—it was a huge relief to have years of hard work pay off on that one day, and I was lucky enough to have my whole family there to celebrate with me.”

As well as the surge of joy and pride that comes with a strong performance, The Olympic Games leaves a lasting im- pression on every participant, whether they wish to continue the sport or not.“Competing in the Olympics was an amazing experi- ence,” Nick LaCava ‘98 said. “Rowing in general, and then competing in the Olympics, completely changed my life. All the cliches you hear about what getting involved in a sport can do for you, like teamwork and perseverance, are all true.”LaCava continued, noting the small intricacies of the Olympic adventure.“Everyone gets something a little different out of their journey, and for me I was able to build connections and friendships with people that will last my entire lifetime,” hesaid.Competition in The Games even enhances athletes’ per- formance and success in other fields.“Training towards the Olympics helped me preparefor my career as a surgeon on many levels,” rower Sabrina Kolker ‘98, who is now an orthopedic surgeon, said. “Life in the operating room affords a fast paced environment coupled with physical and mental endurance and a true sense of ac- complishment in helping people enjoy life with better func- tion. The transition from working as a rower to training as a surgeon was smooth, as both require a demand for technique along with mental and physical challenges intrinsic to each field.”The Olympics not only help produce physically and men- tally fit athletes, but also help mold kind, dedicated people that are an inspiration for the world.

Gould said, “While life hasn't changed too much after placing in The Olympics, it has been really rewarding to share the experience with others, and it is amazing to see the power that an Olympic medal has to inspire.”