Bryan Volpenhein (born August 18, 1976), is an American rower. He is a three-time Olympian, having participated in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics. (wikipedia)
I'm very competitive, but I know when not to be competitive. I know how to have fun, but I know when it's time to get serious. That makes things a lot easier.
Without something I'm really excited about... I'd be really lost.
I borrowed a lot of money from my parents in the years leading up to the 2000 Olympics, and I worked odd jobs.
There's way more pressure cooking for cooks than rowing at the Olympics.
I think I have experience in rowing, and that has given me some ability to go about racing. I'm lucky genetically. I have a good VO2 max - I can hold a lot of air in my lungs - and that definitely helps.
Surfing - I have to go surfing.
Right now my favorite book is 'Omnivores Dilemma.
I'm not disappointed with bronze. It's always good to come away with a medal.
In rowing, you're always striving for that perfect stroke, that repetition, each one being as good as the last. Same thing with cooking. You can't say, 'Oh, I don't feel well, so I'm going to put out a crappy plate.'
