Taylor to Represent Great Britain
7/17/2015 10:12:00 AM | Women's Rowing
Rising junior rower to race at World Rowing U23 Championships
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Rising junior Harriet Taylor of the Syracuse University women's rowing team was recently selected to the Great Britain U23 national team and will represent her home country at the 2015 World Rowing U23 Championships. The world championships will be held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria from July 22-26.
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"Naturally, I was extremely happy and very excited when I was selected for the team," commented Taylor. "I also was extremely relieved. Trials is a very mentally and physically draining process. Although you're friends with everybody, you remain very wary that these people are still your competition. Selection was announced in front of everybody, including those who hadn't been selected. At first, it was difficult to express any emotion because everybody was careful to respect those who hadn't been selected this year."
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Taylor will be a part of Great Britain's women's eight crew at the U23 world championship. Six boats are entered in the women's eight competition. The United States, the 2014 champion, and Germany, who placed third at last year's event, will be competing in Bulgaria.
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"When I was a junior, those athletes who were representing and racing for Great Britain at any level were my idols," added Taylor. "It's something I've wanted to achieve for a number of years and the sense of pride I feel is tremendous. It's hard to fully comprehend that you have been selected and are considered an athlete who is capable of racing internationally. My only job now is to train hard and train well until the championships, and to deliver the best performance I'm capable of."
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The Sunningdale, England native is one of two current women's rowing student-athletes representing their countries at world championships in 2015. Incoming freshman Arianna Lee is racing for the United States at the 2015 World Rowing Junior Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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"The most important thing I've learned in the past two years rowing at Syracuse is that you are completely responsible for yourself," stated Taylor. "If something goes wrong, then you are the only one who can get yourself out of it. Self-belief is crucial. The intensity of the training we undertake at Syracuse, especially in the long winters when we're stuck inside on the ergs requires this level of belief and self-motivation."
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Last year, Great Britain placed second in the women's eight at the world championships. The United States won the final in a time of 6:07.880, less than four seconds faster than the British boat. Taylor is hoping to avenge that defeat in 2015.
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"It's my first time at a world championships, so I'm not entirely sure what to anticipate," concluded Taylor. "I can't wait to race and see where we measure up against other crews. For the past few years, Great Britain has come in second to the United States, so I'm excited to see if we can change that. I'm also looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at a world championships and being surrounded by athletes all representing their countries."
Â
"Naturally, I was extremely happy and very excited when I was selected for the team," commented Taylor. "I also was extremely relieved. Trials is a very mentally and physically draining process. Although you're friends with everybody, you remain very wary that these people are still your competition. Selection was announced in front of everybody, including those who hadn't been selected. At first, it was difficult to express any emotion because everybody was careful to respect those who hadn't been selected this year."
Â
Taylor will be a part of Great Britain's women's eight crew at the U23 world championship. Six boats are entered in the women's eight competition. The United States, the 2014 champion, and Germany, who placed third at last year's event, will be competing in Bulgaria.
Â
"When I was a junior, those athletes who were representing and racing for Great Britain at any level were my idols," added Taylor. "It's something I've wanted to achieve for a number of years and the sense of pride I feel is tremendous. It's hard to fully comprehend that you have been selected and are considered an athlete who is capable of racing internationally. My only job now is to train hard and train well until the championships, and to deliver the best performance I'm capable of."
Â
The Sunningdale, England native is one of two current women's rowing student-athletes representing their countries at world championships in 2015. Incoming freshman Arianna Lee is racing for the United States at the 2015 World Rowing Junior Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Â
"The most important thing I've learned in the past two years rowing at Syracuse is that you are completely responsible for yourself," stated Taylor. "If something goes wrong, then you are the only one who can get yourself out of it. Self-belief is crucial. The intensity of the training we undertake at Syracuse, especially in the long winters when we're stuck inside on the ergs requires this level of belief and self-motivation."
Â
Last year, Great Britain placed second in the women's eight at the world championships. The United States won the final in a time of 6:07.880, less than four seconds faster than the British boat. Taylor is hoping to avenge that defeat in 2015.
Â
"It's my first time at a world championships, so I'm not entirely sure what to anticipate," concluded Taylor. "I can't wait to race and see where we measure up against other crews. For the past few years, Great Britain has come in second to the United States, so I'm excited to see if we can change that. I'm also looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at a world championships and being surrounded by athletes all representing their countries."
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