For someone who has accomplished nearly everything in the sport of rowing, Henrik Rummel never experienced what happened to him last week.
The Pittsford crew alum received a hero’s welcome in a ceremony to honor his bronze medal performance at the Olympics last Thursday at the Pittsford Crew boathouse.
Nearly 200 people, including local politicians and former club members, were in attendance.
“Right after we finished I was a little disappointed, I got a ping of disappointment like I wish I had won,” said Rummel, a graduate of Pittsford Mendon.
“It passed pretty soon, especially when I saw how excited everyone was. I remembered that it was something to be proud of and it is something that I will cherish. I am happy that I had something to show off to people, it feels good.”
Rummel took questions from several of the nearly 150 current Pittsford Crew Club members in attendance. Rummel fielded questions on a wide variety of topics from his Olympic experience to what he does to prepare for a regatta.
Rummel also signed a Team USA Olympic flag, which will be hung inside the Pittsford Crew boathouse.
“It’s great to see this club topping 150 kids,” said Geoffrey Rummel, Henrik’s father. “It’s been great to see how rowing has grown since we moved here in 2000 and now you see all these high school, college and masters clubs.”
Pittsford Sutherland senior Teresa Dotson was one of the current Pittsford Crew members in attendance. Along with asking him a couple of questions, she was eager to see the bronze medal.
“It’s kind of fluttering to be by someone who has been on TV and who has gone to the Olympics,” Dotson said. “Seeing the crowd is crazy, and he grew up in the same town that we did. It is really cool.”
Rummel returned home and was pleased with the improvements to the Pittsford Crew facilities.
During his time with the Pittsford Crew program there were 90 athletes one boathouse. Now, there are 150 athletes in the program, two boathouses and an indoor rowing facility.
Locally, there are now five clubs including the Spencerport Rowing Club, which was formed this summer.
“To see someone who has risen to the pinnacle of the sport, to see that this person came from this organization is tremendous,” said Ken Plotkin, Pittsford club president. “Our program has been growing steadily every year, and we have benefited from athletes who prefer this to traditional sports.”
Rummel is hoping when he returns to Pittsford after the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, he brings back a gold medal. He will soon begin training for the next summer Olympics.
“I want to give it a shot,” Rummel said. “Rowers peak late 20s, early 30s, and I want to give it a shot when I am at my peak, because I know I am still getting faster, and I think we are still getting better. We have a core group of young guys and I really want to see what we can do in the next four years.”
For someone who has accomplished nearly everything in the sport of rowing, Henrik Rummel never experienced what happened to him last week.
The Pittsford crew alum received a hero’s welcome in a ceremony to honor his bronze medal performance at the Olympics last Thursday at the Pittsford Crew boathouse.
Nearly 200 people, including local politicians and former club members, were in attendance.
“Right after we finished I was a little disappointed, I got a ping of disappointment like I wish I had won,” said Rummel, a graduate of Pittsford Mendon.
“It passed pretty soon, especially when I saw how excited everyone was. I remembered that it was something to be proud of and it is something that I will cherish. I am happy that I had something to show off to people, it feels good.”
Rummel took questions from several of the nearly 150 current Pittsford Crew Club members in attendance. Rummel fielded questions on a wide variety of topics from his Olympic experience to what he does to prepare for a regatta.
Rummel also signed a Team USA Olympic flag, which will be hung inside the Pittsford Crew boathouse.
“It’s great to see this club topping 150 kids,” said Geoffrey Rummel, Henrik’s father. “It’s been great to see how rowing has grown since we moved here in 2000 and now you see all these high school, college and masters clubs.”
Pittsford Sutherland senior Teresa Dotson was one of the current Pittsford Crew members in attendance. Along with asking him a couple of questions, she was eager to see the bronze medal.
“It’s kind of fluttering to be by someone who has been on TV and who has gone to the Olympics,” Dotson said. “Seeing the crowd is crazy, and he grew up in the same town that we did. It is really cool.”
Rummel returned home and was pleased with the improvements to the Pittsford Crew facilities.
During his time with the Pittsford Crew program there were 90 athletes one boathouse. Now, there are 150 athletes in the program, two boathouses and an indoor rowing facility.
Locally, there are now five clubs including the Spencerport Rowing Club, which was formed this summer.
“To see someone who has risen to the pinnacle of the sport, to see that this person came from this organization is tremendous,” said Ken Plotkin, Pittsford club president. “Our program has been growing steadily every year, and we have benefited from athletes who prefer this to traditional sports.”
Rummel is hoping when he returns to Pittsford after the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, he brings back a gold medal. He will soon begin training for the next summer Olympics.
“I want to give it a shot,” Rummel said. “Rowers peak late 20s, early 30s, and I want to give it a shot when I am at my peak, because I know I am still getting faster, and I think we are still getting better. We have a core group of young guys and I really want to see what we can do in the next four years.”
