"Once they called out my name I was getting a thousand texts, I think because Mum and Dad would have been calling everyone they knew," Edward said. "My phone was going crazy, I was getting Facebook comments, it was insane."
Edward, who started rowing as a 13-year-old, is now based in Cambridge near the team's Karapiro training base. She has put her business studies on hold to focus 100 per cent on the Olympics, a decision she said is paying off on the water.
"I just decided to put every bit of energy into that [Olympics]," she said. "Not having to think about studies is so good. I can just come home, fully recover and not have to stress about an assignment. It's been a good move pulling out for a bit."
The New Zealand team train out of the Karapiro high performance centre, where Edward and partner Louise Ayling are relishing going up against pair Juliette Haigh and Rebecca Scown.
"We've all got our different coaches but we come together every Wednesday and Saturday and we do squad races and that makes it really competitive."
Edward and Ayling only raced together for the first time during the trials but the combination seems to be working.
"I thought it would be quite difficult but we actually row quite alike, we have really similar technique," Edward said. "I think in a double you either click or you don't and we've just managed to click really well."
Edward said the team was receiving weekly sessions to help them prepare for the Games experience on topics such as nutrition, media and life in the athlete's village.
"Last week a guy gave us a massive seminar about what it's going to be like and how to keep calm and keep everything normal," she said.
"I don't know if we will go to the opening ceremony as it's the day before we race. But the atmosphere of the village will be amazing. I think it will be enough just being among all the famous athletes of the world that you see on TV."
She won't be lacking in supporters with parents Harry and Sue, older brother Chris "plus a few aunties and uncles" travelling to London to cheer her on. Younger brother Jeremy is already in London on his gap year although he may need to change a few plans.
"He's planned a Contiki during the time of the Olympics so that's good of him," she joked. "I made him feel pretty bad about that."
Edward is a natural lightweight who struggles to keep her weight up at the optimum 57kg. So there's one part of the Olympic experience she is particularly looking forward to.
"I am pretty excited about the foodhall in the village. Every takeaway you can think of is there and it's free, and you can eat as much as you want," she said. "That's going to be pretty awesome."
The team leave for Europe on May 18 where they will compete in World Cup events in Switzerland and Germany as part of their Games buildup. Edward said that should give her a better idea of their Olympic prospects.
"The Olympics is the pinnacle of rowing so you never know what the crews are going to bring. To make an Olympic final would be amazing," she said. "We'll give it every crack we can."
