cuse.com article
row2k starting 5 interview
Natalie Mastracci '13 and the rest of her crew in the Canadian Women's coxed eight finished 5th in the A-Final at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro on August 13th. It marked the second time that Mastracci had the opportunity to win a medal at the Olympic games, following her Silver medal finish in London 2012, also representing Canada in the Women's 8+.
preparing for rio
photocred: Row2K
London Olympics | 2 August 2012 | GOLD: USA SILVER: CAN BRONZE: NED
The Thorold, ON native first picked up an oar in 2007 and then made the move to the states to row for the Orange. As a student-athlete, Mastracci got a taste for international racing as a member of the Canadian U23 National team in 2008, 2009, and 2010. She then took two years off to train and compete with the Canadian National Team full-time, during which she competed in the World Rowing Championships among many other international regattas, and earned Silver at the London Olympic Games. Mastracci returned to Syracuse for the 2012-2013 seasons to complete her degree and race with the Orange Block S on her chest once more and then was back at it again with the Canadian National Team gearing up for Rio.
racing in rio
After enjoying the excitement of the opening ceremonies, the schedule of racing for the Women's Eights began with two heats. The first place finisher in each heat would advance directly to the A-Final while the rest vied for the remaining four spots in the repechage. Canada placed third in it's heat behind Great Britain and New Zealand and had a chance for redemption in the reps where the women proved they deserved to be in the race for medal contention, winning by open water nearly 4.5 seconds ahead of second place Romania.
The final, in order of Lane assignment from 1-6, included: the Netherlands, Romania, reigning Olympic Champion and record holder USA, Great Britain, Canada, and New Zealand. It was expected to be a close race and medals were up for grabs. Mastracci, sitting in seven-seat of the stern pair, and her teammates, many of whom had raced with her four years prior, dreamed again of holding their heads high on the podium with medals around their necks. And they knew it wouldn't be easy, and they knew it was going to take everything they had within them, so that's what they gave, pulling for each other every stroke down the 2,000 meter course.
Off the start, the Canadians pressed for the lead. In an impressive demonstration of guts and fearlessness they stuck their bow ball out in front and kept it there for the first 1,000 meters with the rest of the pack chasing. (It was exhilarating to watch!) In the third 500, the favored Americans stole the lead, pushing the Canadians back to second. One can only imagine the emotion and pain the women experienced as they entered the final section of the race course. They had made an early statement and had to dig deep to hang on. Ultimately, the Canadians had drained the tank and didn't have a final surge in the final sprint to earn a medal in an extremely tight and elite feild. They crossed the line less than two seconds behind Bronze medalist Romania in a time of 6:06.04. Great Britain secured the Silver and the Americans reclaimed the Gold in a time of 6:01.49.
photocred: World Rowing
“No matter what position you’re in on the race course, race with the intensity like you’re a length behind and the confidence like you’re a length in front. Be ferociously graceful and you’ll always go fast.”
reflections on rio
It may not have been the medal podium result second-time Olympian Natalie Mastracci and her teammates had trained four years for, but her competitive spirit and enthusiastic attitude certainly led to a performance that fell nothing short of amazing. Following the A-Final race, Natalie bestowed these words of gratitude for the sport and the people who have blessed her journey:
Thank you, Rowing.
Thank you so much for letting me see countless countries across 5 continents. For letting me test the limits of my strength and endurance. But most importantly, thank you Rowing for these incredible people you have shown me. People who dig into the depths of their hearts for those around them. People who bite and claw and scratch for every inch of propulsion. People who tirelessly show support, who push you to be better, who dream as big as they can and who... together you believe whole-heartedly without a doubt that absolutely anything is possible.
I've always said there's something a little wrong with everyone who rows (because you have to put yourself through so much for even the tiniest improvement)... but I think I've had it wrong. There is something so right with each and every one of us who rows. We become selfless for the dreams of our boat, and give everything for them.
To everyone I've ever rowed with: as silly as it is, I can honestly say I've loved you all. I hope you always felt me support you through the water. I can't thank you enough for letting me follow you and feel that magical run of the boat with you.
If you're considering rowing, jump right in both feet, eyes open, heart strong. It's so worth it.
Eloquent words of humility and unwavering grace and conviction as always from the one and only Natalie Mastracci, and all we can say on behalf of SARA is " Thank You Rowing, for sharing with us, incredible people like Natalie Mastracci".
Keep doing what you do, Natalie! Because whether you are in a boat, on an erg, or simply just standing in one's presence beaming and gesticulating, you inspire more people than you know. Thank you for continuing to bring pride for Syracuse Rowing and your beloved Canada. We'll follow you wherever you go because you always take us on an unforgettable ride. And so, we have to ask: where are we going next?