be a leader I was told be confident and assertive prove yourself and win respect
assertive prove yourself and win respect
assertive prove yourself and win respect strong teams depend on strong leadership
strong teams depend on strong leadership
strong teams depend on strong leadership so if you want to make a difference be
so if you want to make a difference be
so if you want to make a difference be an independent leader for others to
an independent leader for others to
an independent leader for others to follow at least that’s what I always
follow at least that’s what I always
follow at least that’s what I always thought
thought
thought but what if following is actually the
but what if following is actually the
but what if following is actually the more difficult role what if the best way
more difficult role what if the best way
more difficult role what if the best way to lead is to first be a follower
to lead is to first be a follower
to lead is to first be a follower yourself
yourself
yourself this realization set me on a path to the
this realization set me on a path to the
this realization set me on a path to the Olympics but it didn’t come easily
Olympics but it didn’t come easily
Olympics but it didn’t come easily through high school I was an average
through high school I was an average
through high school I was an average gymnast and runner so I was thrilled to
gymnast and runner so I was thrilled to
gymnast and runner so I was thrilled to find natural talent as a rower when I
find natural talent as a rower when I
find natural talent as a rower when I walked on to the Purdue University crew
walked on to the Purdue University crew
walked on to the Purdue University crew team in 2009 I immediately loved rowing
team in 2009 I immediately loved rowing
team in 2009 I immediately loved rowing I loved being outside exerting myself
I loved being outside exerting myself
I loved being outside exerting myself racing and constantly improving
racing and constantly improving
racing and constantly improving I loved the strength endurance mental
I loved the strength endurance mental
I loved the strength endurance mental toughness and technical skill required I
toughness and technical skill required I
toughness and technical skill required I loved it and I was good at it I couldn’t
loved it and I was good at it I couldn’t
loved it and I was good at it I couldn’t believe it
believe it
believe it less than four months after my first day
less than four months after my first day
less than four months after my first day in a boat and I was beating everyone on
in a boat and I was beating everyone on
in a boat and I was beating everyone on the team
the team
the team this talent made me confident and I
this talent made me confident and I
this talent made me confident and I quickly became a team leader
quickly became a team leader
quickly became a team leader I worked hard and hoped other people
I worked hard and hoped other people
I worked hard and hoped other people would follow me I tried to be perfect I
would follow me I tried to be perfect I
would follow me I tried to be perfect I raced myself and focused on my
raced myself and focused on my
raced myself and focused on my individual journey and eventually my
individual journey and eventually my
individual journey and eventually my individual goals turned to the elite
individual goals turned to the elite
individual goals turned to the elite level in 2014 while I was in graduate
level in 2014 while I was in graduate
level in 2014 while I was in graduate school at the University of Michigan I
school at the University of Michigan I
school at the University of Michigan I got an email invitation to train at the
got an email invitation to train at the
got an email invitation to train at the Olympic team training center in
Olympic team training center in
Olympic team training center in Princeton New Jersey I had to accept
Princeton New Jersey I had to accept
Princeton New Jersey I had to accept this prestigious group of about 30 women
this prestigious group of about 30 women
this prestigious group of about 30 women is where the national team big boats are
is where the national team big boats are
is where the national team big boats are chosen in the past ten years the u.s.
chosen in the past ten years the u.s.
chosen in the past ten years the u.s. women had earned Olympic silver and two
women had earned Olympic silver and two
women had earned Olympic silver and two Olympic gold medals in the 8th Olympic
Olympic gold medals in the 8th Olympic
Olympic gold medals in the 8th Olympic bronze in the quad and many World
bronze in the quad and many World
bronze in the quad and many World Championship medals in fact the u.s.
Championship medals in fact the u.s.
Championship medals in fact the u.s. women’s eight hadn’t lost a single
women’s eight hadn’t lost a single
women’s eight hadn’t lost a single race since 2005 these tall strong
race since 2005 these tall strong
race since 2005 these tall strong naturally talented fiercely competitive
naturally talented fiercely competitive
naturally talented fiercely competitive and intimidating women were perfect to
and intimidating women were perfect to
and intimidating women were perfect to me I wanted to be them this was exactly
me I wanted to be them this was exactly
me I wanted to be them this was exactly what I’d always wanted I was thrown
what I’d always wanted I was thrown
what I’d always wanted I was thrown right into the mix racing with and
right into the mix racing with and
right into the mix racing with and against Olympic medalist my idols and
against Olympic medalist my idols and
against Olympic medalist my idols and heroes I pushed hard every day trying to
heroes I pushed hard every day trying to
heroes I pushed hard every day trying to impress them I was beyond excited but I
impress them I was beyond excited but I
impress them I was beyond excited but I quickly realized I was struggling before
quickly realized I was struggling before
quickly realized I was struggling before I had relied on my natural talent but
I had relied on my natural talent but
I had relied on my natural talent but now athletes with talent and experience
now athletes with talent and experience
now athletes with talent and experience surrounded me I pretended to know what I
surrounded me I pretended to know what I
surrounded me I pretended to know what I was doing
was doing
was doing but my boats weren’t going fast I was
but my boats weren’t going fast I was
but my boats weren’t going fast I was exhausted it seemed we rode more in a
exhausted it seemed we rode more in a
exhausted it seemed we rode more in a day than I had in a week in college
day than I had in a week in college
day than I had in a week in college after our first Fitness Test I finished
after our first Fitness Test I finished
after our first Fitness Test I finished last I kept pushing desperate to improve
last I kept pushing desperate to improve
last I kept pushing desperate to improve but eventually the exhaustion and
but eventually the exhaustion and
but eventually the exhaustion and nagging pain caught up to me and one
nagging pain caught up to me and one
nagging pain caught up to me and one morning I woke up with back spasms so
morning I woke up with back spasms so
morning I woke up with back spasms so bad I couldn’t stand up I was devastated
bad I couldn’t stand up I was devastated
bad I couldn’t stand up I was devastated I thought it was over my work ethic and
I thought it was over my work ethic and
I thought it was over my work ethic and talent had failed me I needed a new
talent had failed me I needed a new
talent had failed me I needed a new strategy my injury that summer was
strategy my injury that summer was
strategy my injury that summer was probably the best thing that could have
probably the best thing that could have
probably the best thing that could have happened to me I got a chance to restart
happened to me I got a chance to restart
happened to me I got a chance to restart and it started with observation I
and it started with observation I
and it started with observation I watched my teammates I observed them
watched my teammates I observed them
watched my teammates I observed them rowing warming up what they ate what
rowing warming up what they ate what
rowing warming up what they ate what they said in the locker room how they
they said in the locker room how they
they said in the locker room how they handled injuries how they spoke to each
handled injuries how they spoke to each
handled injuries how they spoke to each other coaches how they raced I saw their
other coaches how they raced I saw their
other coaches how they raced I saw their unique strengths christine communicated
unique strengths christine communicated
unique strengths christine communicated clearly moose had incredible
clearly moose had incredible
clearly moose had incredible self-discipline Adrienne always held a
self-discipline Adrienne always held a
self-discipline Adrienne always held a clear and consistent rhythm police had
clear and consistent rhythm police had
clear and consistent rhythm police had amazing core strength Lauren always
amazing core strength Lauren always
amazing core strength Lauren always stood in extra workouts Tessa
stood in extra workouts Tessa
stood in extra workouts Tessa put her head down got the work done
put her head down got the work done
put her head down got the work done Mollie can make anyone laugh Aaron would
Mollie can make anyone laugh Aaron would
Mollie can make anyone laugh Aaron would laugh at anything and al the great
laugh at anything and al the great
laugh at anything and al the great Eleanor Logan was calm in the most
Eleanor Logan was calm in the most
Eleanor Logan was calm in the most stressful situations but I also realized
stressful situations but I also realized
stressful situations but I also realized these women I idolized weren’t perfect
these women I idolized weren’t perfect
these women I idolized weren’t perfect they had injuries bad workouts and
they had injuries bad workouts and
they had injuries bad workouts and insecurities too when you spend six
insecurities too when you spend six
insecurities too when you spend six hours a day training together you see
hours a day training together you see
hours a day training together you see everything I reflected on all this I
everything I reflected on all this I
everything I reflected on all this I thought what is she doing to be
thought what is she doing to be
thought what is she doing to be successful is it working and then I
successful is it working and then I
successful is it working and then I thought do I have the capacity to do
thought do I have the capacity to do
thought do I have the capacity to do that to would mimicking her help me the
that to would mimicking her help me the
that to would mimicking her help me the last part was the hardest changing I
last part was the hardest changing I
last part was the hardest changing I adapted I found humility I realized that
adapted I found humility I realized that
adapted I found humility I realized that I wasn’t perfect either but I couldn’t
I wasn’t perfect either but I couldn’t
I wasn’t perfect either but I couldn’t prove and finally after about a year of
prove and finally after about a year of
prove and finally after about a year of following my teammates I wasn’t proving
following my teammates I wasn’t proving
following my teammates I wasn’t proving more than when I had just relied on
more than when I had just relied on
more than when I had just relied on coaches or figuring it out on my own I
coaches or figuring it out on my own I
coaches or figuring it out on my own I was getting stronger my boats were
was getting stronger my boats were
was getting stronger my boats were moving faster but great you may be
moving faster but great you may be
moving faster but great you may be thinking
thinking
thinking identifying role models learning by
identifying role models learning by
identifying role models learning by example that’s not anything new most
example that’s not anything new most
example that’s not anything new most people already do that what I had
people already do that what I had
people already do that what I had discovered was more than a learning
discovered was more than a learning
discovered was more than a learning style by following my teammates by
style by following my teammates by
style by following my teammates by observing reflecting and adapting I was
observing reflecting and adapting I was
observing reflecting and adapting I was more in tune to the team than I had been
more in tune to the team than I had been
more in tune to the team than I had been to just myself I found the value of
to just myself I found the value of
to just myself I found the value of following in building a stronger team I
following in building a stronger team I
following in building a stronger team I found that following is support everyone
found that following is support everyone
found that following is support everyone has something good to offer by matching
has something good to offer by matching
has something good to offer by matching people strengths instead of criticizing
people strengths instead of criticizing
people strengths instead of criticizing their weaknesses we’re more effective
their weaknesses we’re more effective
their weaknesses we’re more effective following is trust and respect people
following is trust and respect people
following is trust and respect people liked rowing with me because they could
liked rowing with me because they could
liked rowing with me because they could tell I respected them and I genuinely
tell I respected them and I genuinely
tell I respected them and I genuinely did following its confidence I realized
did following its confidence I realized
did following its confidence I realized that I didn’t always have to prove I was
that I didn’t always have to prove I was
that I didn’t always have to prove I was the best I didn’t always have to speak
the best I didn’t always have to speak
the best I didn’t always have to speak up things didn’t have to be done my way
up things didn’t have to be done my way
up things didn’t have to be done my way I gave up control and individuality
I gave up control and individuality
I gave up control and individuality for the good of the team instead of
for the good of the team instead of
for the good of the team instead of leading I followed instead of waiting
leading I followed instead of waiting
leading I followed instead of waiting for people to match me I matched them
for people to match me I matched them
for people to match me I matched them instead of feeling jealous when I lost I
instead of feeling jealous when I lost I
instead of feeling jealous when I lost I thought about how they did it instead of
thought about how they did it instead of
thought about how they did it instead of talking i listened instead of
talking i listened instead of
talking i listened instead of criticizing I supported instead of being
criticizing I supported instead of being
criticizing I supported instead of being stubborn I adapted I followed this
stubborn I adapted I followed this
stubborn I adapted I followed this subtle change in mindset made all the
subtle change in mindset made all the
subtle change in mindset made all the difference and last June I was named to
difference and last June I was named to
difference and last June I was named to the u.s. Olympic women’s eighth for all
the u.s. Olympic women’s eighth for all
the u.s. Olympic women’s eighth for all of us it was a dream come true so here
of us it was a dream come true so here
of us it was a dream come true so here we are rowing on Lake Carnegie and
we are rowing on Lake Carnegie and
we are rowing on Lake Carnegie and Princeton so what is the eight so there
Princeton so what is the eight so there
Princeton so what is the eight so there actually pay attention nine athletes in
actually pay attention nine athletes in
actually pay attention nine athletes in the eight so one athlete the Coxon sits
the eight so one athlete the Coxon sits
the eight so one athlete the Coxon sits in the back of the boat facing forwards
in the back of the boat facing forwards
in the back of the boat facing forwards to steer and encourage her eight rowers
to steer and encourage her eight rowers
to steer and encourage her eight rowers who are facing backwards generally
who are facing backwards generally
who are facing backwards generally speaking the most technical rowers sit
speaking the most technical rowers sit
speaking the most technical rowers sit in the front of the boat the most
in the front of the boat the most
in the front of the boat the most powerful and strongest sit in the middle
powerful and strongest sit in the middle
powerful and strongest sit in the middle and the most consistent and rhythmic sit
and the most consistent and rhythmic sit
and the most consistent and rhythmic sit in the back the athlete sitting closest
in the back the athlete sitting closest
in the back the athlete sitting closest to the Coxon facing away from everyone
to the Coxon facing away from everyone
to the Coxon facing away from everyone so she sets the rhythm as everyone
so she sets the rhythm as everyone
so she sets the rhythm as everyone watches her back following her is the
watches her back following her is the
watches her back following her is the stroke seat that’s me
stroke seat that’s me
stroke seat that’s me I was the stroke seat after all this
I was the stroke seat after all this
I was the stroke seat after all this time I was learning to follow I was
time I was learning to follow I was
time I was learning to follow I was named to the only seat that can’t see
named to the only seat that can’t see
named to the only seat that can’t see anyone now it was objectively a leader
anyone now it was objectively a leader
anyone now it was objectively a leader but I didn’t act like the leader I’d
but I didn’t act like the leader I’d
but I didn’t act like the leader I’d once strived to be I did the same things
once strived to be I did the same things
once strived to be I did the same things I had as a follower I supported my
I had as a follower I supported my
I had as a follower I supported my teammates strengths I trusted the vision
teammates strengths I trusted the vision
teammates strengths I trusted the vision of the boat and I was confident enough
of the boat and I was confident enough
of the boat and I was confident enough to recognize that I wasn’t the best and
to recognize that I wasn’t the best and
to recognize that I wasn’t the best and that was okay because all that mattered
that was okay because all that mattered
that was okay because all that mattered was that the whole boat was the best and
was that the whole boat was the best and
was that the whole boat was the best and we wanted to be the best in the world
we wanted to be the best in the world
we wanted to be the best in the world thanks to audio recorded by Caitlyn our
thanks to audio recorded by Caitlyn our
thanks to audio recorded by Caitlyn our Coxon let me bring you back to the
Coxon let me bring you back to the
Coxon let me bring you back to the olympic
olympic
olympic in Rio de Janeiro Brazil on August 13th
in Rio de Janeiro Brazil on August 13th
in Rio de Janeiro Brazil on August 13th 2016 at the start we are crazy with
2016 at the start we are crazy with
2016 at the start we are crazy with nerves but Caitlyn calms us by telling
nerves but Caitlyn calms us by telling
nerves but Caitlyn calms us by telling us to focus on each other nothing
us to focus on each other nothing
us to focus on each other nothing matters except for the women in our boat
you see line
you see line vengeance
as we start I am aware that ever in the
as we start I am aware that ever in the boat is watching me following my rhythm
boat is watching me following my rhythm
boat is watching me following my rhythm but I am confident because I have been
but I am confident because I have been
but I am confident because I have been following them for years as we crossed
following them for years as we crossed
following them for years as we crossed the 750 meter mark I sneak a glance
the 750 meter mark I sneak a glance
the 750 meter mark I sneak a glance across and I see we’re in third down a
across and I see we’re in third down a
across and I see we’re in third down a second to Canada I focus back in as
second to Canada I focus back in as
second to Canada I focus back in as Caitlin says yc4 Netherland 750 push for
Caitlin says yc4 Netherland 750 push for
Caitlin says yc4 Netherland 750 push for the girl in front to push for the girl
the girl in front to push for the girl
the girl in front to push for the girl in front to follow someone else takes
in front to follow someone else takes
in front to follow someone else takes courage here we are in the Olympic final
courage here we are in the Olympic final
courage here we are in the Olympic final the biggest race of our lives
the biggest race of our lives
the biggest race of our lives nine individuals unique women each
nine individuals unique women each
nine individuals unique women each giving our maximum all-out effort while
giving our maximum all-out effort while
giving our maximum all-out effort while managing to stay perfectly in sync
managing to stay perfectly in sync
managing to stay perfectly in sync flowing with the rhythm committed to
flowing with the rhythm committed to
flowing with the rhythm committed to each other if anyone were to do
each other if anyone were to do
each other if anyone were to do something differently we would lose
something differently we would lose
something differently we would lose momentum but now we’re crossing the
momentum but now we’re crossing the
momentum but now we’re crossing the halfway point and the wind picks up the
halfway point and the wind picks up the
halfway point and the wind picks up the boat rocks our legs burn vision blurs we
boat rocks our legs burn vision blurs we
boat rocks our legs burn vision blurs we don’t think just move we are one unit
ten years of dominance in this event
ten years of dominance in this event even more than following each other we
even more than following each other we
even more than following each other we follow all the women that have trained
follow all the women that have trained
follow all the women that have trained in the system every woman who has beat
in the system every woman who has beat
in the system every woman who has beat us on a workout or sat in front of us in
us on a workout or sat in front of us in
us on a workout or sat in front of us in a boat or said something inspiring in
a boat or said something inspiring in
a boat or said something inspiring in the locker room we are the women of the
the locker room we are the women of the
the locker room we are the women of the USA past and present we follow each
USA past and present we follow each
USA past and present we follow each other
on the dock I stood next to my role
on the dock I stood next to my role models and idols now as teammates and
models and idols now as teammates and
models and idols now as teammates and friends we did it together which is so
friends we did it together which is so
friends we did it together which is so much better than doing it alone learning
much better than doing it alone learning
much better than doing it alone learning how to follow made me a better rower but
how to follow made me a better rower but
how to follow made me a better rower but I think these values apply to the real
I think these values apply to the real
I think these values apply to the real world who can you learn from observe
world who can you learn from observe
world who can you learn from observe what are your teammates colleagues and
what are your teammates colleagues and
what are your teammates colleagues and peers doing to find success reflect can
peers doing to find success reflect can
peers doing to find success reflect can you do that to adapt are you willing to
you do that to adapt are you willing to
you do that to adapt are you willing to make a change that will benefit the team
make a change that will benefit the team
make a change that will benefit the team are you willing to hand the reins over
are you willing to hand the reins over
are you willing to hand the reins over to someone else and then once you truly
to someone else and then once you truly
to someone else and then once you truly know how to follow you may discover that
know how to follow you may discover that
know how to follow you may discover that you were leading all along thank you
”
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