[MUSIC PLAYING]
The synchronization in rowing is fundamental to our sport,
both mentally and physically.
You become one with those eight other girls and the boat
itself.
Every single aspect of the stroke
has to be done at the same exact time.
You are just following the girl in front of you.
You row like her.
You go out with her.
Her rhythm is your rhythm.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Knowing that everyone else in the boat
is feeling the same pain that you are
is what allows us to wake up each morning
and continue to make those sacrifices.
It's a selfless act to just give yourself up to your teammate.
We're about the name on the front.
Virginia is who we represent.
And so you become a little less of an individual
and a little bit more UVA and of the team.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
When you have nine girls on a boat completely
together and in sync, it is a feeling like no other.
When everyone's moving together, when everyone's pulling hard,
you can feel the boat lift out of the water.
It's like you're flying.
And you can just hear bubbles rushing underneath the boat.
It's the sound of the water moving against the boat.
And that's when you know everyone is moving perfectly
together.
[MUSIC PLAYING] [BUBBLES]
When you're in the middle of a race
and you're not sure if you can go anymore,
but you go a little bit deeper and then
push through it, for me, for the whole, for Virginia,
that's why I row.
I row because the girl in front of me is doing it.
So how dare I not push and find a little bit more.
I have teammates that are relying on me to be there.
And I can't let them down.
I'll be there every day for my team.
That's a leader, someone who can sacrifice for the greater
whole.
[MUSIC PLAYING]