Wednesday, August 19, 1992 - North Shore News - 13

Stroking for gold

THE SUMMER Olympics in Barcelona featured one of the
best performances of the Canadian team in Olympic histo-

ry.

Considering that one-third of
the 18 medals won by Canadian
athletes came from the men’s and
women’s rowing crews, it was also
a banner competition for the
oft-overlooked rowers.

The North Shore can claim two
of the gold-medal-winning
athletes as our own as both
Jessica Monroe of North Van-
couver and Kirsten Barnes of
West Vancouver stroked to gold
in the women’s fours aud
women’s eights categories.

Barcelona 182

While Kirsten remained in
Europe folloving the completion
of the Gaines, Jessica returned to
her North Vancouver home the
day after the closing ceremonies.
The News caught up with Jessica,
26, to get her thoughts on her first
Olympic experience:

North Shore News: Now that you
have returned home and had a
chance for everything to sink in,
what was the highlight of your
two-week Olympic odyssey?
Jessica Monroe: The opening cer-
emonies when we were able to mill
about with all the other athletes
en the field was great. Also, being
able io watch some of the com-
petitions and becoming really
caught up in the energy of the
crowds was really fun.

NSN: What were you thinking
about when you stood on the po-
dium and listened to the Canadian
anthem?

Monroe: It made me feel special
for Canada. The day-in, day-out
training is very much for myself
and the crew, but when we got to
the Olympics it really felt like it
was for the country. There were
so many Canadians and Canadian
flags everywhere it just felt really
patriotic.

NSN: How did you feel when
Jennifer Dewey could not com-
pete? (Dewey was on both the
four and eight boats but withdrew
the night before the first heats

By A.P. McCredie
Sports Reporter

with back spasms. She was
replaced by Kay Worthington.)
Monroe: For me it was hard
because Jenny and | have raced
together quite a bit, and she
taught me a lot about racing and
the desire to win. After we won
the world championships last year,
the four of us had the feeling that
the Olympics would cap off a re-
ally nice thing.

NSN: Do you think the Canadian
rowers’ success in Barcelona will
affect the sport in Canada?
Monroe: I hope ir brings
awareness that rowing is a totally
different sport than any other. It
gives you a lot of confidence that
through hard work anything is
achievable. I used to watch the
Olympics and always think the
Russians and the Germans were
unbeatable, but now I realize that
any country can produce winning
athletes.

NSN: Do you feel Canadians
supported your efforts?

Monroe: Absolutely. When we
were over in Europe (training for
the Olympics) we received a lot of
postcards and telegrams from
people none of us knew, so we
really did feel support from home.
Lately, Canada seems io be
almost falling apart, and I
thought it was great to get
postcards from people from out
East saying ‘way to go.”

NSN: What sparked your interest
in rowing?

Monroe: My older sister Joanie
rowed for Canada in the 1984
Olympics {finishing fourth) so
there is some history of rowing in
my family. Then | watched the °88
Seoul Games and thought it would
te fun to do. I used to do dragon
boat racing, and I thought rowing
would be something that exercised
your whole body.

NSN: What are your plans for the
future?

Moarce: Well, to get a litle
balance back in my life I’m going
to Capilano College in the fall to
study history. I'd also like to take
up some other sports, like kayak-

NEWS photo Mike Wakefield

ing. The only rowing I’ll be doing DOUBLE GOLD Olympian Jessica Monroe displays the hardware she picked up in Barceiona as a

is recreational.

member of the dominant Canadian women's rowing team.

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