I cried when I was carrying the Olympic flame

World Rowing: You carried the Olympic flame last week, how was it?
Aikaterini Nikolaidou: For me it was a big honour to be selected from the best Greek athletes to light the torch. Also it was good for rowing because I am the first rower to be allowed to light the torch in Greece. The emotion was very big, I cried when I was carrying the Olympic flame.

WR: How was your winter training after your silver medal at the World Rowing Championships in Aiguebelette last year?
AN: The preparation with my crewmate Sofia Asoumanaki was very good. We live all year together, we are like sisters! We trained a lot this winter in the single and the double. We sometimes race each other and then we are, of course, opponents. We had some injuries but I think it is part of the game.

WR: What are your goals for this season?
AN: First of all our big goal is Rio! To be ready we want to have some good races at the European Championships and then in Lucerne. It would be good to win some medals along the way but the main goal in really the Olympics.