How to Make the Olympic Team by Doing the Unthinkable

Ursula Grobler is scheduled to race in the National Selection Regatta (NSR) #1 in New Jersey on April 23-25th. While it looks like she has already been invited to be a member of the US Olympic Rowing team, Ursula has decided to race twice in the Regatta - in both the Lightweight and Heavyweight single scull divisions. And if she wins both races, she will have done something that nobody else has ever done before.

But if her membership on the Olympic team seems secure, why knock herself out racing twice?

It's what is best summed up as an uncertain future. The question is what race is she going to focus on for the 2012 Olympics in London. If she races in the Lightweight Women's double scull, then she is waiting for a qualified partner to join in her training. If she can't get a top-notch partner, then she will opt for the Women's single scull event. But the single scull is an "open" category - open to all, lightweight or heavyweight.

Thus, her dilemma... and the decision to race twice at NSR #1.

Complicating things a bit further, Ursula's coach Carlos Dinares will also be racing at NSR #1. So, Ursula and Carlos have now become training partners.

As is her custom, Ursula looks on these changes and challenges as a good thing. With Carlos now her training partner, Ursula has had to kick her self-responsibility and motivation up a notch. Like Carlos keeps telling her, if deep down she doesn't want it for herself, then he can't force it on her as a coach, anyway.

With two races there's also added pressure for Ursula to make weight as well as focus on the recovery that will be required to race multiple times. It provides a unique training challenge that her Shuttle MVP is helping her to meet. Ursula said that in the effort to make weight, there's the possibility of losing crucial power in her legs. The MVP is helping her maintain her muscle quickness so she can still be dynamic despite her lower body weight. As always, she really appreciates how the MVP is functional and recreates the dynamic motion and "sense of momentum" that translates to successful rowing.

Ursula also said something that we hear quite often from other users: she simply likes using the MVP. She said that with a lot of other exercise machines, when you use them, it's hard to envision yourself in your particular sport. In other words, you may be working on certain muscles that will help you in your sport, but you don't get the same feeling or translation of your exercise into the actual motions of your sport. Simply put, it's not functional. With the MVP, she experiences the same smooth motion, the sense of momentum that she feels in the boat. Consequently, she never get's bored using the MVP. She sees and feels the translation of what she's doing on the MVP to her rowing. It's very motivating, she says.

Love to hear that, Ursula! A double shot of luck to you and Carlos in New Jersey! 

To learn about Ursula's story:

Ursula Grobler & Carlos Dinares: How to Develop Efficient Power

The New World Champion

To follow Ursula's success head over to her blog.