ROWING: Three-time Olympian and two-time World Champion, Kim Brennan (née Crow) is feeling well-prepared ahead of her first race in the Women’s Single Sculls on Day 1 (Saturday August 6) of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
“I’m not feeling the pressure too much, I’ve had some good preparation and am confident of how things are going, I’m just really looking forward to getting out there and having a race,” said Brennan.
“The accommodation has been great, we feel incredibly lucky and fortunate to be in such great accommodation that is nice and close to the course, I couldn’t ask for anything else. The course is one of the most beautifully spectacular ones that I have rowed on. The mixture of the high rises that are surrounded by these superb mountains, it is just a fantastic contrast.
“The lake itself is stunningly beautiful, you know in rowing we say to live in the moment and be present in what you’re doing, and you can’t help but be in the moment when you’re in such a spectacularly beautiful venue,” added Brennan.
The reigning World Champion in the Women’s Single Sculls, who is undefeated since August 2014, reflected on how much she is enjoying competing in only event at this Olympic Games, having competed in two at the London 2012 Games (Women’s Single Sculls and Women’s Double Sculls).
“I think I have to appreciate that I’m four years older now and I probably don’t recover as well as I used to so it’s really nice having had to only focus on the single scull for the past four years, and I’m really looking forward to doing the best I can do next week.”
Brennan, who, in December 2015, married Australian Olympian and 2008 Olympic gold medallist, Scott Brennan (Men’s Double Sculls), is relishing competing under her married name.
“I have had a few people ask me what it’s like to be the inferior Olympian in the household, but it would be lovely to follow in his footsteps (and win a gold medal)!
“Scott is a very tough human being and has the most incredible approach to racing and a great work ethic. I think now, having raced under the Brennan name, and hearing it [Brennan] announced in the role call, makes me feel pretty special because I know how hard he worked and how hard he raced, so if I can do anything half as well as he did, then I will be very happy,” said Brennan.
When asked if she had any plans to celebrate, post-Rio, should she win a medal, the 30-year-old, who celebrates her birthday on 9 August, said: “I do have a plan, irrespective of the result, Scott and I got married at the end of last year and we haven’t been on a honeymoon yet so we’ve got a honeymoon planned to Africa after the Games. That’s definitely something to look forward to come what may.”
