copyright: Sybrand Treffers

Marit with the Golden Oar

Just after winning at the 2005 World Rowing Championships Marit van Eupen received an email. It contained news that most Dutch single scullers can only dream about. Marit was asked if she would like to have the Golden Oar.

?In the days thereafter I realised that it possibly would be the greatest honour in my rowing career, maybe even in my life.?

The Golden Oar is the most prestigious award for single scullers in the Netherlands. It has only seen five owners in its 114 year life. Marit becomes the sixth. It was handed to Marit by former owner, Frans Göbel (lightweight champion 1989) who chose Marit to succeed him.

But 2005 was Marit's year in more ways than one. She started off the year by winning gold at the FISA Team Cup in the lightweight women's single. Then she completed the racing season by becoming World Champion in the same event. Moving into the head racing season Marit finished third at Switzerland's Armada Cup in the open women's single. She then took on open-weight World Champion Ekaterina Karsten and finished a competitive second at the Hell of the North.

At the end of the year the awards and accolades started to arrive. Marit became Amsterdam female athlete of the year and was also nominated for national female athlete of the year.

Marit talked to World Rowing about the Golden Oar, popularity and her life as a rower.

World Rowing: What makes the Golden Oar award so special?

Marit: It is not a prize you win, like an Olympic or World Championship medal, but a prize you are awarded. It is like someone who really knows what it means has judged that you are good enough to be allowed to have the Golden Oar. It is the greatest recognition from within rowing.

The award is handed over at the discretion of the person who possesses the Golden Oar at that moment. It is a prize for top level single scullers only and all of the predecessors have at least reached the same position as you. They really know what it is to be a single sculler and they know about being a winner.

I don't really possess the Golden Oar. It is more that I have it on loan until I can hand it over to the next person who is eligible.

World Rowing: Who do you think the next person will be?

Marit: I can only repeat the words from Frans about that; ?Wanting gold is not immediately winning gold. For rowing in the Netherlands it would be good if it didn't take too long a time.?

World Rowing: What do you attribute all of your 2005 success to?

Marit: Rowing in the double during the winter and spring season. No kidding, I think that my speed in single was already ok, maybe even better in 2003 and 2004, but it was not so visible because I raced internationally in the double in those years. 

World Rowing: Are you recognised by the public?

copyright: Sybrand Treffers

Marit with one of her biggest fans, her mother

Marit: In my neighbourhood people know what I am doing and I am their local hero. The most touching for me is the 92 year old neighbour of my parents. She is always the first to know the news and the results because she is listening to the radio all day, especially the sports broadcasting.

World Rowing: Are you a full time rower?

Marit: More or less. But a life with only rowing is too narrow for me, so when I was asked (fall 2000) to be involved with the coaching of the Nereus novice women, I agreed. And it turned out to be a successful combination for me. I can coach early morning or late afternoon and have all day for my own training and in between enough time to go into the theory behind all aspects of rowing, coaching and physiology and for preparation of the novice program.

World Rowing: You also coach rowing. How would you describe your style?

Marit: Clear and consistent. I never make a demand on anyone that I wouldn't make on myself. Until now I have only had winning teams. I think that coaching is an excellent way of sharing knowledge and I hope to bring a little of my enthusiasm to the novice rowers I am coaching. Further for me the biggest reward of coaching is when people discover powers in themselves they didn't know they possessed.

World Rowing: What is your favourite workout?

copyright: Sybrand Treffers

Frans Göbel hands over the Golden Oar to the first woman recipient

Marit: 4 x 2000m stroke rate 24/26/28/30 (every 500 meter up), preferably side-by-side. I hate it and I love it. Otherwise an endless row on the Amstel River in the single with lots of turns and no one else on the water.

World Rowing: Do you have a favourite race?

Marit: Final races; nothing to loose, everything to win.

World Rowing: How do you fit training into all of your engagements?

Marit: Good question. I hope that from now on it is back to business and main focus on training. Next week we depart for a three week training camp in Seville, Spain, and I hope to be back in shape by the end of the camp. 

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