In the summer of 2012, an athlete from the Winnipeg Rowing Club was selected to compete at the Olympic Games in London. While our club had seen other athletes represent Canada at the international level, this time it was different. This time, I knew him personally.
His name is Kevin Kowalyk, and I had started rowing just before he did. Once he started training in 2005, he was always at the club. Kevin trained a lot, and trained hard. Even as a beginner, he was already miles ahead of his teammates.
Kevin could be hard on himself, and often cut himself down. He criticized his own technique. But on the water, what he may have lacked in finesse, he made up for in sheer strength and determination. In 2007, just two years after he first started rowing, he won the most coveted men’s single sculls race in Canada – the Royal Canadian Henley. He made it look easy, beating athletes who had been training at the sport for years.
That race must have done something significant to his confidence, because after that, Kevin stopped the negative self-talk and started the Olympics-talk. He declared that one day, he’d be at the Olympics. I totally believed him.
From then on Kevin trained even harder. Rain, shine, or snow, he rode his bike every day from the north end of the city to the south end. After a full day of studies at University of Manitoba, he’d put in his time at the rowing club with a full work-out either in the gym or on the water. Sometimes both. Then he’d ride his bike home, get up the next day, and do it all over again.
If he was tired, he never talked about it. If it was difficult for him, he never complained. He just did it. I’m not sure where he found his inspiration, but once he had the Olympic dream in mind, he latched on to it.
Kevin won the Royal Canadian Henley in his single for a second time in 2009. Then in 2010, he left his home and life in Winnipeg to go to Victoria, where he could train alongside the men’s national team. Athletes who were scouted and invited to national training camp received funding to help cover costs of living. Kevin received no funding. But he went anyway.
In 2011, he was finally recognized as an official national trainee. He received some funding, and kept training. His hard work paid off with a seat in the men’s quad at the world championships. While his crew did not make the finals, Kevin kept training.
In 2012, his Olympic dream came true! Kevin earned a seat in the men’s double to compete in London. He was really going to be an Olympian – just like he said he’d be.
How cool it was to watch him race on TV! Not only did I feel Canadian pride, and hometown Winnipeg pride, but I also felt a touch of personal pride. I knew him before he was an Olympian, and was super proud to know him. While his boat did not make the Olympic finals, that still never stopped him. He kept rowing, and training at the Winnipeg Rowing Club. Training with the rest of us. We were so lucky to have him back!
Kevin often lead the Saturday morning workouts. He’d position himself on an ergometer at the front of the room, and set the pace for the rest of us to follow. He’d call out the changes, and put all of his energy into every single session.
During these workouts led by an Olympian, I’d usually place myself at the back of the room. My only goal was to keep up with the different rates, practice the best technique that I could, and survive each session, one at a time.
Sometimes when the training got hard, and I’d struggle to finish… I’d look to the front of the room to see the most inspiring athlete I knew. And think to myself “I’m training with an Olympian!” It always seemed surreal to me.
Kevin’s participation was a boost to our rowing club. His leadership pushed me – and others – to keep going. To keep positive. To keep up. There’s no doubt his presence inspired many of us. It certainly inspired me.
