Cicely MADDEN Interview

Youth in Focus – August 2013 

Cicely Madden followed her sister into rowing and has not looked back since. Beginning in 2008, 18-year-old Cicely has already notched up three years on the United States junior national team, a course record at the Head of the Charles regatta and this year she was the fastest youth single sculler at the 2013 United States Youth National Championships.

Cicely admires single scullers including Fie Udby Erichsen (DEN), Gevvie Stone (USA) and Mirka Knapkova (CZE), but so far all of her international racing has been in team boats. Cicely already has a junior championships silver medal from the women’s quadruple sculls and she was back in the quad for the 2013 World Rowing Junior Championships in Trakai, Lithuania. Madden stroked the quad to a silver medal.

I love to row because… there is nothing like going out for a morning row and watching the sun rise. Whether you are alone or in a team boat, listening to the puddles run behind you and the oar locks clicking makes every hard workout worth it. I also love how fair rowing is. If you train hard you will see the results you deserve. Rowing is what you make it.

If I were to row across the Atlantic Ocean… I would like to be with my best friend Lydia Keating.

My teammates and goals… motivate me the most.

If I could have one super power it would be… to fly.

In the future… I want to continue rowing and find a career I enjoy.

Before I race… I like to listen to music and eat.

First 20 strokes or final 250? I enjoy the final 250. That is where races are won or lost.

My favourite non-rowing activities are… painting and swimming in the ocean.

In Trakai I most looked forward to… having our hard work pay off.