March brought us the highly anticipated but also slightly dreaded Olympic trials.  The scene was set for Dorney, Eton. At this time of year it is a popular place for families  walking dogs, children learning to ride bikes, teenagers roller-blading and adults of all ages to wrapping up against the spring wind and walking briskly along the lakeside arm in arm enjoying the cold fresh air.

For the British Rowing Team Dorney lake is a very different, far more serious place. It will be the venue for the Olympic Games Regatta this summer and in March it was the home of the Olympic trials.  This is a location where hopes could as easily be realised or crushed and for many the trials would mean the first or last step of their Olympic dream.

The important thing as far as Anna and I were concerned was to finish first and second – in some ways a tie would be ideal.  By being the fastest two people in the country we would earn the right to be selected for the British Women’s Double, a boat that we’ve been unbeaten in since we started racing together.  The order of the result was important only from a personal point of view, the bigger picture was always the joint result and whoever came first or second was irrelevant.

That is what has been important and special since we’ve worked together as a team.  Both of us care about each other and want each other to succeed – not only from the professional point of view that we are dependent on each other – but from a personal point of view we’ve encouraged, supported, helped and, when necessary, pushed each other to be the best we can be, in all different aspects, each step of the way.  The strength of this team is that together we are faster, stronger and better than we would be individually.  And that also means we get to have more fun!

(Oh, and as for those trials, we did come first and second and the reward is now we get to take on the rest of the world, together, as a united front).

Katherine