Cara Linnenkohl, 18 has won silver at the 2008 World Rowing Junior Championships, Linz, Austria. Linnenkohl has also rowed into the history books of the event by becoming the highest ranking American junior woman in the single scull.

Linnenkohls’ medal proves how hard work, determination & a positive attitude can win the day. The Seattle area resident who rows out of Lake Union Crew (LUC), Seattle, WA reveals here what is involved in rising to an elite level of rowing, her hopes for the future and her advice for other aspiring athletes.

I congratulate Linnenkohl & her coach at LUC, Conal Groom for a year of national and international success and wish her continued success as she begins at the University of Virginia.

Q)How do you feel about your spectacular achievement? A)I’m glad it’s over. I’m excited to go to college and hopefully have the same ‘spectacular’ achievement there!

Q)How did you feel during the race? A)At first I didn’t feel I even had a chance at 3rd place. It took the first 500m to feel “hmm, maybe…” then I felt confident from 750m through (the finish).

Q)What’s your next goal in rowing? A)First getting through Under 23’s every year through college, to excel at my college crew program, & hopefully make the London Olympics, but that‘s a long way off…

Q)Describe a typical week leading to Junior Worlds. A)5am wake-up, breakfast by 6:30am. Next I have first practice, 60-90 minutes then home for lunch & a break before second practice, then home for food and 2 hours of free time.

Q)Briefly describe your nutritional approach to crew. A)My dad’s a nutritionist so I get a lot of background from him. I don’t really have a diet but I do try…to include a lot of raw foods, like vegetables and whole-grains, stuff that kids of my age perhaps think “ugh, that’s disgusting"!

Q)How do you juggle crew with having the normal life of a young person – school, socializing etc’? A)My social life can become crew. This year school was hard to juggle with crew, especially with adding in extra school sports. Basketball was probably one of the worst ideas of my life! The whole time I’ve been training for this it’s been pretty rigorous and not left much time for other things. However I think it will be worth my while in the future.

Q)What motivates you? A)People motivate me. Motivation definitely comes from the heart; when you hear others encouraging you, pushing you to do better. Also, when coaches say “good, that part was good” it gives me something to grow from and to try to replicate every time. Also, seeing people smile from seeing a young athlete compete…that really pushes me to go further.

Q.What’s your advice for aspiring young athletes? A.Initially when I was racing people that were bigger & faster…I didn’t think I had a shot (at medaling). I thought “oh no, I’m too little…I could never get that far & achieve that much”. But I think it comes down to drive... believe you can do it and you can.