Gowler's constant want to go faster

Kerri Gowler

EVERYONE stood up and took notice when the then 20-year-old Whanganui rower Kerri Gowler and her partner, Grace Prendergast, chased down the reigning World and Olympic champions, Helen Glover and Heather Stanning of Great Britain in the women's pair. This was 2014 and Gowler calls it her best year so far.

In that year Gowler won the under-23 women's pair and then went to the World Rowing Championships and won the women's four, setting a World Best Time in the process. Gowler is now off to the Olympic Games as part of the New Zealand women's eight.

Quick Q & A with Gowler

I discovered rowing ... at High School in Whanganui

Rowing is the sport that suits me best because ... I find the more you put into it the more you get out of it.

What I like about rowing is ... the feeling when you nail your rhythm. When you get completely stuck in it.

What keeps me rowing is ... the competiveness and the constant want to go faster. Also, the environment and culture of the women's sweep squad. It makes coming to training easier.

The rowing venue I like best is ... Lake Rotsee, Lucerne. Great place.

The result I'm most proud of so far ... there is not so much an exact result but a year, 2014. The highlights were winning gold at the U23's World Championships in the women's pair and then going on to win the elite women's four at the World Championships in Amsterdam.

My least favourite training session is ... long rows without a boat to pace.

On the erg my best result is ... hopefully yet to come.

My sporting hero is ... I don't have a standout hero, however I look up to the many successful athletes that are part of, or have been, the Rowing New Zealand Team.

What motivates me most is ... always aiming to improve boat speed and being able to test this against some of the world's best rowers weekly. Rowing New Zealand has an extremely competitive environment, which I really enjoy.

I'm most relaxed when ... I have finished a training session and am sitting at Paddock with a Dirty Bird Bagel and a Flat White!

If I can pick my dream crew it would include ... the eight I'm currently in. We all hold a lot of respect for one another, in particular what each girl brings to the boat. Such a fun group of girls to work with on and off the water.

In my fridge you will always find ... milk from the vat.

My motto is ... live it, Love it, Enjoy it!

In 10 years' time the sport of rowing will ... have achieved equality.