Olympics in sights for Rumball

 

Rumball, BSc’00 (Kinesiology), MSc’02, PhD’07, actually qualified Canada’s pairs boat for the Summer Olympics with long-time partner Darcy Marquardt two years ago by winning the world championship in 2006. But the dynamic duo was snatched up by the women’s heavyweight eight crew earlier this year in an effort to bolster Team Canada’s entry for the sport’s showcase event.

“I have had a pretty amazing journey with the sport of rowing, and in many respects I think I could have been quite satisfied with it a long time ago,” says Rumball. “But I keep learning and embracing the new challenges, and it is a very stimulating environment to be in.

“I feel that the lessons I’ve learned through this sport are so applicable to my everyday living – teamwork, commitment, discipline, resilience, dedication. The Olympic berth is a culmination of years of training and it would mean achieving a goal and realizing a dream I have had since my teens. Representing Canada is something that I have always been very proud of, and to do so at the Olympics is a huge honour.”

Rumball wasn’t prepared to crystal ball her Olympic experience, but says she is at the top of her game and a podium finish is a definite possibility.

“In the sport of rowing, there aren’t many goals set at races in terms of times because there are so many environmental factors to consider – wind speed and direction and water temperature, clarity, and depth. But we do have times we try to attain during practices that can give us an indication of our speed.

“I believe that anything is possible – we have a legitimate chance of a podium performance, but it will take our best effort and attention to detail to get there.”

Rumball cherishes her preparation for Beijing as the Fredericton, New Brunswick native says these first Olympics may be her last. This fall, after deferring for a year to pursue her Olympic dream, she is starting medical school at The University of Toronto and moving to the Big Smoke with her husband, former Mustang football standout Adam Rumball.

“My family and education will take priority and I will have to wait to make those kinds of decisions,” offers Rumball. “Committing to training for rowing involves many more people than just me and I feel as though I have been asking people to make sacrifices on my behalf for a long time.”

A proud holder of a Purple Blanket for her exceptional career as a student-athlete, Rumball led the Mustangs to an OUA championship in 2005-06 after personally not losing a race in two years of action against provincial competition in both singles and pairs – all the while completing undergraduate and graduate degrees in kinesiology and sports medicine.

“All throughout my rowing career I have been able to train full-time, two to three times per day, while balancing a full-time academic load,” says Rumball.

“Studying at Western was such a thrill for me, because I was able to pursue both academic and athletic dreams to their fullest. I have been able to complete three degrees at Western while training at the National Training Centre for the women’s rowing team located on Lake Fanshawe – truly the best of both worlds.”