The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

After making her international debut at the Olympic Games last year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Emily Morley felt like she was one of the ordinary rowers competing at the 2017 World Rowing Championships in Sarasota, Bradenton.

“Competing again is such a great experience,” she told The Tribune. “This time I am not so much of a ‘deer in the headlights’ and more of a familiar face to people. This race is the second most competitive race behind the Olympics so it is great to have people come up to me and say they are excited to see me here.”

Morley, the first Bahamian to compete in the Olympics, was joined by Michael Knowles as they race in the championships that got started on Monday and will wrap up on Sunday. They are entered in the men and women single sculls respectively in the repéchage stage.

While Knowles finished fifth in his heat of the semi-final yesterday in a time of nine minutes and 10.58 seconds, Morley also got fifth in her heat Thursday in 8:32.01.

“The competition is definitely a lot more competitive,” said Morley, when asked about the comparison in the competition at the two meets. “Most of the women’s single competition is from Europe or Asia, where rowing has more depth and is more well known. The Bahamas is considered a developing rowing country, so being put up against these countries is a great racing and training experience.”

With the experience of competing in Rio under her belt, Morley said she knew she had to step up her training for Sarasota, especially considering the fact that she was based at home.

“During my Rio training I was fresh out of college and was still rowing in Ithaca, NY out of the Ithaca College boathouse,” she reflected. “I had people to row with every day and my job was rowing before Rio. Training for World Championships I had a full time job, so most of my training was from 5am to 8am and 6pm to 8pm every day.

“I trained out of the Nassau Rowing Club boat club all by myself every day, working with Becky Robinson (my college and Rio coach) over long distance communications. This time around it was a lot more self motivation and determination, which in return has been very rewarding.”

Despite what she encountered, Morley said she was pleased with her performance so far.

“I still have my final tomorrow afternoon (today). Once I raced my heat on Monday I knew where I stood in the competition,” she projected. “Obviously things can happen during races where the outcome can change, but I pretty much knew what final I would be in based on my heat.

“Since then my coach (Becky Robinson) and I attacked each race plan with a goal for our overall strategy. Tomorrow (today) should be a lot of fun and a great racing experience. I just have to work on being physically stronger in general. I think this is my disadvantage.”

It is great to be ‘Team Bahamas’ instead of just representing by myself. I hope he has had a great experience and brings back the excitement of rowing on the elite level to spread throughout the Bahamas.”

As for Knowles, Morley said he performed as expected.

“Since this is one of his first regattas I think he has done a great job representing the Bahamas,” she summed up. “Just having someone in another event shows the development of the sport in our country since the Rio Olympics.

This means that the sport is growing in the Bahamas. As the president of the Nassau Rowing Club, I have seen an increase in interest in rowing. I hope that this only helps the interest increase more.”

Once the championships are finished, Morley said they will look at chartering their next competition.