Frappell Claims Gold at U-23 World Championshps
7/30/2017 12:47:00 PM | Women's Rowing
PLOVDIV, Bulgaria – At the World Rowing U-23 Championships last week, Indiana rising sophomore Antonia Frappell helped the Canadian women's eight bring home a gold medal after a pair of dominating performances.
After setting a world record on their way to winning the preliminary heat, Frappell and Canada went on to win gold with a time of 6:09.890 to beat the United States by over six seconds.
This past season as a freshman at IU, Frappell helped the Hoosiers 1V8 to a 12th place at the NCAA Championships and the Hoosiers to a 12th place finish as a team – the fourth straight season finishing in the top 15 at the NCAA Championships.
Following the World Championships, we caught up with Frappell to get her thoughts on her performance and what it was like to win a gold medal:
What was that moment like when you crossed the finish line in first place?
FRAPPELL: I can't pin down what crossing the finish line felt like. I didn't know what to feel first. I remember looking around, not totally sure what to do with myself, when my bow seat, Morgan, said my name, and I fell back to hug her.
What kind of emotions go through your mind in a moment like that?
FRAPPELL: Canada's heavyweight single sculler, Trevor Jones, had just won the final ahead of ours, so 'Oh! Canada' was already playing. My father became a Canadian citizen this year, and because I was at IU, I hadn't been able to be at his citizenship ceremony. At the ceremony, he would have sang the national anthem for the first time as a Canadian. So hearing the national anthem just filled me with pride, and I thought of my Dad as I started to sing along. He has always been in my corner and is one of my biggest supporters. That's the most tangible emotion I remember, thinking of my Dad and how much Canada has come to mean to me.
Looking back on the overall experience of the World U-23 Championships, what will you take away from it?
FRAPPELL: The entire experience was amazing. The other women in that eight became a part of my identity this summer, and they are what made the experience what it was. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to train and learn alongside them. Both the coaches and the athletes were focused on the process, and I think that's what I want to take away. When we set the world record, we weren't thinking about how fast we had to go, we were thinking about how to make the boat go fast. Another thing is that each athlete was accountable for every stroke they took, so we were able to trust in each other every time we took the boat to the line. When we raced, each stroke was for each other. I want to bring that same individual accountability to IU.
After setting a world record on their way to winning the preliminary heat, Frappell and Canada went on to win gold with a time of 6:09.890 to beat the United States by over six seconds.
This past season as a freshman at IU, Frappell helped the Hoosiers 1V8 to a 12th place at the NCAA Championships and the Hoosiers to a 12th place finish as a team – the fourth straight season finishing in the top 15 at the NCAA Championships.
Following the World Championships, we caught up with Frappell to get her thoughts on her performance and what it was like to win a gold medal:
What was that moment like when you crossed the finish line in first place?
FRAPPELL: I can't pin down what crossing the finish line felt like. I didn't know what to feel first. I remember looking around, not totally sure what to do with myself, when my bow seat, Morgan, said my name, and I fell back to hug her.
What kind of emotions go through your mind in a moment like that?
FRAPPELL: Canada's heavyweight single sculler, Trevor Jones, had just won the final ahead of ours, so 'Oh! Canada' was already playing. My father became a Canadian citizen this year, and because I was at IU, I hadn't been able to be at his citizenship ceremony. At the ceremony, he would have sang the national anthem for the first time as a Canadian. So hearing the national anthem just filled me with pride, and I thought of my Dad as I started to sing along. He has always been in my corner and is one of my biggest supporters. That's the most tangible emotion I remember, thinking of my Dad and how much Canada has come to mean to me.
Looking back on the overall experience of the World U-23 Championships, what will you take away from it?
FRAPPELL: The entire experience was amazing. The other women in that eight became a part of my identity this summer, and they are what made the experience what it was. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to train and learn alongside them. Both the coaches and the athletes were focused on the process, and I think that's what I want to take away. When we set the world record, we weren't thinking about how fast we had to go, we were thinking about how to make the boat go fast. Another thing is that each athlete was accountable for every stroke they took, so we were able to trust in each other every time we took the boat to the line. When we raced, each stroke was for each other. I want to bring that same individual accountability to IU.
Players Mentioned
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