Worlds RESULTS, Olympics, and Listeners' Q&A!

*This transcript is autogenerated*

Kristi Wagner  0:02  
We're all like really exciting races. I know how hard everybody works. It also gives I think Sophia and I competence. This training plan and everything we've done has set us up for success here. Welcome to the other three years, a show for anyone who has an Olympic sized dream, they want to turn into a reality. Hi, and welcome to this week's episode of the other three years. This week is an exciting week, the World Championships just ended. So we're going to update everyone on that. And then in the middle of the World Champs I answered some more listener questions with my producer Christine. So I had not raced in my semi final or final yet. That's gonna be our episode this week. First, this is what I'm doing now with my training, which is really, this is what happened last week at the World Championships. Because now I get to have a little break, and I'm not really training. So first, we raced in the semi final on Friday, and Sophia and I won our semi final, which was very exciting for a number of reasons, the first being that it's fun to win a semi final, but second being that the top six boats are automatically qualified for the Paris Olympics. So to be super clear, that's the boat class is qualified for the country, not the athletes, just the boat class. So Sophia and I did not qualify for the Olympics, but we qualified a boat. So that means that the US will definitely have a women's double in Paris. So that was so exciting. That's number one goal of these world championships is to make sure that you do that and make sure that you qualify. Because the only other way to go to the to get a boat class into the Olympics is to go to what's called the final qualification regatta which we also call the regatta of death, which happens in Lucerne next summer in Lucerne, Switzerland and two boats qualify from that for each event. So that's like, a bit more high stakes. Like last chance, I should be clear like boats that race at the last chance almost every Olympics end up meddling or winning the Olympics. So it's not like oh, that means you're going to be like the slowest one by any means. It's just definitely a little bit of a more stressful go. And it's you just really, you know, want to qualify. So that was really exciting. We had a really good race in our semi we like got out. And we were ahead early. So all week in Belgrade really every day until Sunday was windy. I think Saturday wasn't like quite as bad. But Thursday and Friday were honestly pretty rough. And it was a crosswind. So they receded the lanes, meaning that they prioritized boats that had qualified in higher positions and put them in the better lanes. And so it was just like a really rough go. If you didn't have one of those priority lanes, which, you know, is like you had to qualify to get the priority lanes, but it's just not really fun when conditions play a role in things. And who knows if they did have to run all over the races again and see if they were different because of the conditions but it was definitely a very windy day. There was a lot of chop and especially building into the afternoon. Other boats definitely had worse conditions. They like also retimed to the races. So we ended up racing earlier in the day than we were going to but yeah, that was exciting. And then we had to wait around all day on Saturday. But we got to watch a lot of the other US crews race in their finals on Saturday. And it was really fun because so many of them did really well. On Friday, two of the boats, the women's lightweight single and the Para mix double, both muddled. And then on Saturday, the women's lightweight double that we train with all the time. Mary And Michelle, they came in second. They had amazing race that was really exciting. And then the pair of mixed for metalled and the men's straight for meddled. So those were all really exciting races. I know how hard everybody works. And it also gave I think Sophia and I confidence like, Okay, this training plan and everything we've done has set us up for success here we can go and have a really good race tomorrow. And then Sophia and I both said we slept really well on Saturday night, which is pretty amazing to sleep well the night before final but I slept like a baby. So that was great. And then yeah, Sunday we had our race. It was about two o'clock and we did not have the best start. We were in last place in the first quarter of the race, but we moved to the fields and we ended up coming in third. Like very close to Lithuania who came in second and a little over three seconds. Behind Romania who came in first, it's it's an interesting feeling because I'm definitely like, so happy and ending up on the podium feels my first time meddling and World Championship like, it feels very exciting. It's always what you want to end up doing is getting a medal. And it really felt like, we couldn't have done anything else like we, we did, like put a really strong sprint finish forward. And, of course, it would have been nice to pip, Lithuania at the line come in second, but I am so proud to have like ended up on the podium. So that's exciting. But it's also, if we had had a really good start, would we have been more in the race? Would we have been able, you know, it's some of those questions start to come through your head. So I think it's good, because it's nice that we're still getting faster, we're still on the right track, like things are still moving forward. And to get, you know, a bit of a reward from your training is really exciting. But I think to still have like progress to be made and places to go and more goals to accomplish is also good. So like, it's really fun to get to go to the podium doc. And then when we were on the podium dock waiting to like, do our medal ceremony, the women's aid came down and the US Women's aid like charge the the fields came in second, it was so exciting. We got to like celebrate with them on the dock. So that was really special. But yeah, I mean, I think all of the boats did a really good job, we did have a couple of fourth place finishes, which is just like a really tough go. I'm so proud and impressed by you know, that was like the women's for who they're just really impressive. I mean, they they set a World Cup record earlier this year. And that's a really competitive vote category, but class and they, you know, to come and forth. I mean, it's just tough, because I know that they wanted more, but I'm proud of them. And Kara, the women's single also came in fourth, I feel like it's really impressive finishes probably hard to say that to people. Because if I had come in fourth, I probably would have been a little upset too. It was, it was a good World Championship, the Dutch and the British won a lot of gold medals, like we are definitely still behind. But our training program is working, we're getting faster. As a country, we're getting faster as individual boats like things are improving. And I think that's really important to know, because we're on the right track and like we're doing the right things. And it's funny to come from a country like the US because for so long. We're just this like women's aid powerhouse, which is amazing. And like I grew up super inspired by that. And I know so many people that do and I think it's helped like, create this rowing landscape in the US of like eights dominance. And that's a priority boat and high school and college. And I think it's really incredible and amazing. But I think for a country to be successful in the world championship level in the Olympic level, it needs to be more well rounded than that you can't just be winning one boat category for 11 years. And like kind of, it doesn't matter about the rest. It needs to be a full well rounded system where a lot of different things are prioritize. And I think that's the change we're making. And that's not to say that the the eight is not like special and important it is of course it is. And they did amazing. I'm so proud and happy for my friends and teammates in the eight. But I think you know, we had a men's boat with sweet boat, women's sweet boat, lightweight boats going boat, like we're on the metal and lots are on the mouse and in lots of different categories. And that's showing more growth for the US. And that's what's really exciting because you can't only make one fast boat, you can make a lot of different fast boats. And it's just finding the right seats for the right athletes, which I think is really special and cool and opens up so many more doors for so many more people because maybe people move different boats better than others. And I just think that's really cool. I mean, it definitely wasn't like, oh, every boat did the best they could have done like, of course, there were some really, I think frustrating results for people. And that sucks. I've been there. And that's really not fun. But I think overall, we're headed in the right direction as a country and I am proud of myself. I'm proud of Sofia, I like I'm really proud of us because last year was really tough. I think for both of us individually and together. It's not to say we did a bad job but I think it was just a tough year a lot of different things happen. A lot of factors played into that. And I think this year everyone came in with an open mind of not just us but like everybody of okay, we're just gonna do the work and do what's asked of us and see what happens and then it just is crazy, like how much can change in a year. And it makes it's both like scary and exciting for next year, because we really don't know what's going to happen. And that's, but that's like sports. And that's what's really awesome. It's really nice. It's fun when you do well, because you get to hear from a lot of people, which is so exciting. So, thank you, if you've reached out to me, it's really fun. And now yeah, I'm just gonna have a couple weeks of trying to relax and not row. So I'm in Paris, actually, for a couple of days, seeing my friend Claire from college, and then I'm gonna just try to relax, it's hard to relax when you're so crazy, like we all are. But I think that I think I'll be able to do it. And then before we know it, it's gonna be fall racing. And this year ahead of the Charles is a cash prize. So a bit higher stakes fall than normal. But now, I think it's still important to like take time off and do a reset like physical as much as mental, because next year is going to be crazy. And we all got to get ready. So that's my update. Third place, bronze metal on the podium. Rowing is an exciting sport. And now you're gonna hear me and my producer, Christine, answering some more listener questions from last week. And next week, we're going to share a conversation that I had with one of our physical therapists and our massage therapist from our world champs trip, Dierdre, and Alicia, and they are like the dynamic duo shout out also to Jeff are other physical therapists that was on the trip. So we have a lot of great, great people that are doing amazing body care work for us. But deers really should have gone on a lot of these us rowing trips together, they've kept everyone physically, emotionally, spiritually intact, and they're just awesome. So it was a super fun conversation. And I think everyone will really enjoy kind of hearing about what their role is with the team, you know their outlooks on everything. So I'm excited to share that with you guys next week.

So today, we're just going to answer some more of our listener questions that came in after I had recorded the last segment and maybe other questions that Christine has, and we're gonna crush it.

Christine O'Donnell  12:37  
So we've got all these questions that came in from Instagram, and I'll just read them for you. How is the course

Kristi Wagner  12:44  
the course is good. It's definitely windy and choppy. But you know, people are handling it. A lightweight men stubbled did flip today real bummer. But they got back in and finish the race which they had to do to progress to the B final. Yeah, it's definitely a bit choppy, but it was choppy at the last Olympics. It's supposed to be windy in Paris. You know, like, if you're a good rower, you have to be good rower in any condition. You just kind of gotta roll with the punches.

Christine O'Donnell  13:10  
Are you meeting friendly people they're

Kristi Wagner  13:12  
the people at the hotel are very friendly. haven't really met anyone else. But the people that work here and the people the security guards at the racecourse are very friendly. The US team is very friendly.

Christine O'Donnell  13:23  
What is your favorite regatta snack?

Kristi Wagner  13:26  
I've been eating these really delicious Nutella biscuits like little cookies that have Natalia in them. Like they're pretty popular in all of Europe because they had them in Italy. And they have them here to say that that's been my favorite workout a snack?

Christine O'Donnell  13:38  
Do all the athletes stay at the same center? Or does each team have its own hotel?

Kristi Wagner  13:44  
So at a world championships? No. Every team makes its own arrangements and accommodations. So there are a few other teams staying at the same hotel that we are staying at the Dutch the Spanish think the Serbians and like actually the world growing stuff is staying here too in the referees, but other countries are seeing it other hotels. So I think that the like Organising Committee will give suggestions of places to stay. But it's up to each team's team manager and stuff to make their own accommodations.

Christine O'Donnell  14:18  
Does the US team have its own nutritionist or chef?

Kristi Wagner  14:22  
Yes, we do. And you should listen to my episode in which I interviewed our dietician was and we actually have another dietitian here too. Her name is Megan. And she actually mostly works with winter sports but she's here also so we have to and they so they aren't really cooking here. They're more making sure that the hotel is like understanding what we need and everything and that everything's good. And then we have like snacks tables set up both in the hotel at the venue. They just organize all that and they also help the lightweights or maybe like people that have allergies or vegetarian or something like that.

Christine O'Donnell  15:00  
How do you maintain your diet while abroad? Well, first,

Kristi Wagner  15:03  
I don't really have a diet, I kind of just eat whatever. But I think you just have to be willing to, like try new things, but not to go too crazy, because stuff is a little bit different. Like the food here is just, you know, at every meal, they have pasta, potatoes, chicken, rice, veggie, you know, like, it's, it's basic,

Christine O'Donnell  15:23  
is there a difference between the rowing techniques between the rowers from different countries?

Kristi Wagner  15:30  
Yes, there is. I think even within countries, different coaches coach a different style of rowing. So there is very technique, very styles of like rigging, you'll maybe notice that certain countries have different sort of race profiles. Some people start faster, some people come on a little harder at the end, it's all not that different. But there are you can kind of see different styles from the different countries.

Christine O'Donnell  15:57  
Very cool. All right, who has the best rowing program? In the world?

Kristi Wagner  16:03  
That's a really hard question. Because there are so many different like boat classes. I'd say. Last year's World Championships, I think the British topped the medal count. And so like that could arguably be who was like the best rowing program in the world. I think it was New Zealand at the Olympics. But a lot of countries are very successful, I'd say like heavy hitters, and I'm probably going to forget someone and then you know, whatever. But I'd say the British Romanians, the Dutch are a really strong team. The Italians are pretty strong. The Irish have a pretty good team. The Germans have been pretty strong in the past, but then a lot of other countries. Oh, China has a really strong team. I'd say we're like, have been strong, didn't have the best Olympics are kind of coming back.

Christine O'Donnell  16:58  
I think the absence of a compliment is not an insult.

Kristi Wagner  17:02  
I mean, like at this level, you can't count out anybody. That's the thing. Everyone is good enough that they could do anything on any given day. So

Christine O'Donnell  17:11  
yeah. What are your thoughts while waiting at the start line,

Kristi Wagner  17:16  
I usually just try to stay as calm as possible. I like to think, you know, we're gonna have a good start, we're gonna have a good race. This is gonna be really good. Because I bow I kind of have to get our vote like aligned in the starting gates. Yeah, just check all my stuff. I try not to get too ahead of myself, like just kind of staying focused in the moment and taking some deep breaths, getting my body in my mind ready for, you know, the 68 minutes of stress that it's about to go under. So nothing crazy.

Christine O'Donnell  17:50  
Yeah, no biggie. Any rowers from other countries, you get excited to see at the event.

Kristi Wagner  17:57  
There are a lot of Yale grads here that I either no, because I went to school with them, or you know, we've crossed paths that's fun to see and cheer for them. It is cool to see you know, more like quote unquote famous people rowing is also such a small sport, like, and you're just so focused on what you're doing. So

Christine O'Donnell  18:13  
are there any other teams from other countries where you're like, you'd like hit it off? And you're talking to them? And you're like, Oh, we're bonding? Are you just like not looking at the other? We don't do all? No, okay. Yeah, I know, just

Kristi Wagner  18:28  
after the after the race, like Yeah, of course, you'll hang out. And you'll talk to people and like, you say, like, Hey, how's it going, you know, your friends and stuff. You're friendly to people, but like, No, we're all like, we're all you know, quote, unquote, like professionals, we're here to do a job. Like we're very focused on what we're doing. And that we have really important tasks at hand. So it's, it's way more, you know, keep your heads down and focus on the work and don't be mean to people. But, you know, after racing well, I'll go hang out of course, and that's that's a different vibe.

Christine O'Donnell  19:01  
Moving on to the next question. That one wasn't even a question. Was it Christine? Question difference between having the doubles as a trials bow and a camp about him.

Kristi Wagner  19:10  
So actually, the double was a trials vote this year, Sophie and I raced to trials and the lightweight women's double, and men's double was a camp vote. But the Openweight doubles were still trials boats, we did kind of go to camp. It is a little bit confusing, because we did kind of go to camp, but we did race in a trial. It was an open trial, anybody could go and race. But it has been a different system, post Tokyo of all of the camps, and specifically the small boats being involved in the camp system. Personally, I think it has really benefited the small boats that have gone to the camps. And I think for us if it's been really helpful to train against other crews and have all of the resources available, like at the camps and at the Olympic Training Center. and all of those things in the coaching and just being with everyone, it is more travel and it's more time away. But I think it really has benefited all the individuals and in our boat.

Christine O'Donnell  20:12  
How do people financially support themselves to grow after college

Kristi Wagner  20:16  
boom, heavy hitting question, people do a number of different things a lot of people work have at least part time jobs, we also do get you if you've placed high enough at a world championship or World Cup, depending on the time of year, you qualify for direct Athlete Support without dos, and it's from the US OPC. And it varies in amount, but you can qualify for that it's a monthly stipend. So it's another way that you kind of offset costs. When I'm at a camp, I have very few costs in my life that housing is provided food is provided all of that stuff. But it's, it can be a real challenge. And especially if you're not quite at the level of the national team, you're not qualifying for Das, that kind of thing. Like that can be really hard. And I think it that's why a lot of people row at different like programs or training centers, which help kind of subsidised costs of things. But we're really underfunded program, especially compared to like a lot of other countries programs. So it definitely is a challenge. I think we're probably one of the only countries that have athletes like working right now, even during World Champs so I think a lot of other countries, they don't work at all, because their funding is just so much higher.

Christine O'Donnell  21:34  
So you're saying you're working right now? Well,

Kristi Wagner  21:37  
I kind of consider podcasting one of my jobs than I'm literally doing that as we speak. But I'm also doing my other job. So I'm not working one but two jobs. But I like it. I think it's a little bit of a distraction. And I, as I was telling you, Christine, like I'm gonna go dark, kind of, and like a couple hours until the racing is over. So then sorry, can ask me any questions.

Christine O'Donnell  22:03  
She's going dark, heard many athletes from other countries got sick question mark, is it spreading? How is the five

Kristi Wagner  22:12  
I also heard that people were sick, I knock would like haven't really seen or experienced anything. I think one athlete on the US team got sick, but I think he's already better. So we have a lot of doctors and people, you know, they'll jump in and make sure that we have everything we need. And vibe is good. It's I mean, this is like a really stressful thing. And qualification for the Olympics is a really high stake. And like we were just talking about the money like a lot of not just in the US and other countries to it's like, okay, it's sort of like, if you qualify, if you place this high, if you do this, then your setup for the whole next year, the training for the Olympics may you know, it's a lot of stakes, not just to like perform and get a medal and all of those things, but it's a lot of like, do I qualify for Das? Do I qualify for health insurance? Is my family gonna be taken care of, you know, there's a lot riding on things. So I think people realize the task at hand. But that being said, like I do think the vibe is good, because you can't just be wound so tight all the time. You have to be chill and know when to push and when to be in the zone and when to just be relaxed.

Christine O'Donnell  23:23  
Okay? Race walk through, do you do visualization before racing, but also don't give anything away?

Kristi Wagner  23:29  
I do a little bit. I meditate. And I tried to like calm my mind and stuff. But since we're a small boat, it's a little different. I think in like big boats, they do a bit more race visualization, like as a whole crew. So yes and no.

Christine O'Donnell  23:44  
What are the landmarks on the Belgrade course?

Kristi Wagner  23:49  
They're just a lot of beach clubs kind of all along, I guess normally they have. They're like, open and so people are like swimming and stuff, but they're closed right now. The ones on the course.

Christine O'Donnell  23:59  
Okay, last question on here. What is your recovery process like

Kristi Wagner  24:03  
after a race I like to do a little flush drink gross tasting, but rehydrating beverages, sports drinks and stuff. I shouldn't say they're gross. Had since Monday to Friday. So it's like a super long time. The turnaround from the semis to finals. Like if we're in the a final or the final. We'll both be on Sunday. So it's just one day but still it's not exactly like the World Cup where we were racing twice a day every day. Some of the crews have had us crews have reached like back to back and like it's just yeah. rehydrating refueling. Get your legs up, get a spin go to bed early. You know, there's nothing crazy. Maybe take a cold shower. It's not that hot. So yeah.

Christine O'Donnell  24:44  
Okay. You mentioned you're going dark soon. What does that mean, for us? listeners?

Kristi Wagner  24:51  
Oh, it doesn't mean anything for the listeners. It just means to you Christine that I won't reply to you about certain things and maybe I will, I just don't want to be like have kind of extra stressors and like the day before racing, I can still reach out to people and I can still talk to people and I can still go on social media or check my email or whatever. But it don't necessarily have people like pinging me. That's all it means. After racing, I am going to travel for a couple of days. I'm going to go see one of my friends in Paris for like literally two days and then it just takes a little while to get home because I fly into Newark and then I have to go to my car and then drive back so it's like whole

Christine O'Donnell  25:32  
thing. Okay, perfect. Thank you so much, Christy.

Kristi Wagner  25:36  
Thank you. My quote of the week to end the episode is well, I saw it on the flower, Instagram page, flower coffee shop in Boston, but it says it's from Akilah Hughes, and it is don't let your ice cream melt counting someone else's sprinkles. So everyone have an ice cream celebrate World Champs and I'll see you next week. Thanks for listening. Bye I'd love to hear from you. So send us a topic suggestion or if you'd like to submit a question for our Ask Christy anything segment, head to our website, the other three years.com

Transcribed by https://otter.ai