Road to Paris: Abby Dent Olympic Training Log - July 25
7/3/2024 12:00:00 PM | Rowing, Olympics
• Dent, Canadian 8 Claim Silver in Paris | Michigan Rowing Paris Olympic Updates
University of Michigan rowing senior Abigail Dent will document her training as she prepares to compete in the Canadian 8+ at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Dent dedicated the 2023-24 season to training in her home country, aiming to secure a spot on Team Canada's roster for Paris. She will be rowing in a boat determined to defend its gold medal from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, with four athletes from that victorious lineup returning to compete once again in 2024.
July 25
In this week's entry, Dent checks in for the final time before the Games, giving us a final update on her boat and all its preparations before races begin. Team Canada has arrived in Paris and is only days away from competition!
Our training camp in Italy went very well. We were able to maintain our speed and work on other aspects of our racing that we wanted to fine-tune before heading over to Paris. Our boat had some great opportunities for team bonding, both on and off the water, and we are more aligned than ever heading into the Olympic Games. After arriving in Paris and having a couple of days of practice on the race course, we are very excited and eager to start racing. We feel that we have checked all the boxes and are ready to take on the competition. As we start our racing so close to the opening ceremonies, and our venue is not based in downtown Paris, we will not be attending the opening ceremonies but will watch virtually! We will be walking through the closing ceremonies so watch for us there! I could not be more proud of this team and what we have accomplished. These women have made such an impact on me as both an athlete and a young woman, and I am pumped to get on the course Monday morning and show the world what Canada has got in store!
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July 18
In this week's entry, as Dent embarks on her pre-Olympic training camp in Italy, she reflects on her rigorous preparations, the camaraderie built amidst challenging weather, and the growing anticipation leading up to the final push towards Paris.
This was our first week in Italy for our pre-Olympic training camp, and we are very excited! Despite the hot and humid weather, we are taking big steps forward and gaining speed. We have been using this opportunity to really dial in on our hydration and off-water cooldown routines that we will implement once we arrive in Paris. Our boat has spent a lot of time connecting and learning what each person needs to excel during races, both during travel and off the water. As we get closer to racing and the nerves rise, it is crucial to make sure that everyone feels supported. As we head into our final week of preparation, I couldn't be more excited about where our boat is. We have been moving really well and achieving great speeds during practice, so we just need to carry this momentum to Paris. The countdown to GO TIME is on!
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July 11
In this week's entry, Dent reflects on mental preparation she undertakes as Team Canada makes its way to Italy to train before the Games begin in Paris.
This week was our final week of training before heading overseas. We are going to Italy for a two-week training camp before competing in Paris at the Games. Like any other training week, you stick to your routine and focus on the work at hand. You can't let the outside distractions interfere with the job you came to do. While there is chaos in packing and getting ready to compete, there is also excitement and peace knowing you have made it this far and get to go race the race of your dreams. The flight overseas to a competition is a great time to reflect on what you have done over the past few training blocks: what work you have done, what you have accomplished, the determination, resilience, and consistency you put in to get that seat on the plane. 'You did it.' But as I've said before, the job is not done. My teammates and I are very excited to start training in Italy and keep tapping into the speed work. This is where our boat really excels. We are a very tight-knit group and lean on one another during both the highs and lows, and that is what makes us a great boat. Being the youngest in the boat and having six Olympians behind me (and one in front of me) is truly a unique experience. It feels like I get to have the keys to the boat, but I wholeheartedly know that every woman behind me has my back and is going with me!
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July 3
In her initial entry, Dent takes us through the final days of June and beginning of July as she and Team Canada prepare to make the flight to Paris in less than a week.
This past week was a heavy volume week, training-wise. We did a lot of pieces on the water to come together as a boat and get some speed work in, and more spark work on the erg. Recovery is even more important, and we focused on techniques we plan to use in Paris while racing. I'm trying to take care of my body and fuel to the gold medal standard every day. Our boat is close to each other as we are all driving towards the same goal -- winning gold -- and getting even closer as we get ready to head to Paris on July 8. I am very excited and focused heading into the Games. I have been training hard and knew I had a good chance to make the team, but to see the official announcement earlier this month meant all the hard work is paying off. But the job isn't done.
Players Mentioned
