Active Champions

Darcy Marquardt

World Champion and two time Olympic Rower

What Activities Keep You Fit and Active?

As a kid I loved softball, floor hockey and figure skating. I didn't actually discover rowing until attending the University of Victoria. When I am training to compete I row indoors on an erg a lot, and use cycling as a cross training activity. This year has been the first year I have taken time off from rowing since University, and I have really been enjoying discovering new activities. I still row, but have gotten into road biking, and will cycle over to the north shore and back. I really love running, and hiking: they have a therapeutic quality to them and it is wonderful to be outside. I also really like Pilates and see it as a valuable activity to prevent injuries. I try to walk and take the stairs whenever possible, it is an easy way to be active and it lowers my carbon footprint too!

What Motivated You to Become Active?
I had so much energy as a kid that being involved in physical activity was more of a necessity for my parents to keep their sanity! I asked my mom the other day why I never took piano lessons like my siblings did and she said, 'well Darcy, if we could get you to sit still for 20 minutes...' I just had so much energy I needed to do something with it.
I had a lot of fun on my teams, it was very social. I met fun people and made amazing friends.

How Do You Motivate Yourself to Stay Fit?
Having an exercise buddy is really helpful for many reasons especially if you like team sports and are very social. But a big part of being motivated comes from personal goal setting. It is so important for everyone, no matter the situation, to set smart goals. It is important to set your goals that little bit further out of your reach so that you push yourself to be the best that you can be. It makes sense to think big, but if you take a goal like going to the Olympics and winning a gold medal, it can seem overwhelming. So I always break it down and set short term goals that are more manageable. Right now I am using the rowing fitness test as an indicator of my progress. My target is to beat my time by 20 seconds each time I do it. It is still quite an ambitious goal, but much easier to think about and focus on than something like the next summer Olympics, which is still a couple of years away. I always look at my goals week by week, or even month by month and chart my progress in a journal. That way if I have an off day, which happens to everyone, I can look back and realize that it is OK because maybe I didn't eat well the day before or something like that, and overall my journal shows that I have been making progress.

What Are the Benefits of Being Fit for You?
Being active is my way of feeling normal. I really notice a negative change in how I feel if I don't eat well, or if I am unable to work out. A healthy body equals a healthy mind and increases your ability to focus on work or school. There are so many long term health benefits of an active lifestyle. Eating well and exercising are foundational in disease prevention. When you work hard to be fit your body will be toned, and it is a great additional benefit to feel good about how you look and to maintain a positive body image.

Who Are / Were Your Role Models?
I have an active family. My mom was always going to exercise class, and my dad was involved at an elite level of hockey, and played football for UBC. My Grandma once said to me that your greatest asset is your health, and without it you don't really have much of anything at all. That really stuck with me. When I dedicated myself to rowing, I always looked up to those competing at a higher level. I remember starting rowing at UVic and thinking the Varsity Women were truly incredible. When I made the National team I began to look up to the pioneers of the sport. Marnie McBean was a great mentor to me during the Olympics and I also looked up to Emma Robinson; both female rowers who won gold medals for Canada in the past.

Hobbies / Interests?
Training can be compared to a full time job, so when I am not working I really like to volunteer my time. Since I benefited so much from sport throughout my childhood, I recently became a member of the steering committee for the Vancouver chapter of KidSport . It is a great organization that provides funding for kids to get active. With rowing I have had the opportunity to do a lot of travelling and I really enjoy learning about new cultures. I dabble in scrap booking, and like to cook as well. Reading and watching movies are big too.

Thrills?
I would really like to go skydiving one day. That seems like the ultimate thrill.
Not too many people know this, but at the beginning of a rowing race the boats have to lock on to a starting gate and there is a countdown that last four minutes! There is so much anticipation at this time; it is very thrilling. You are sitting there ready to go, and you have to wait! What helps me is to breathe deeply and visualize what it is that I need to do during the race, and just repeat to myself: BELIEVE. I think the feelings I have had before a big race might be similar to what goes through your head and body before jumping out of a plane! You have to get psyched up, not psyched out -or else you won't perform.

Favourite Things?
Among my absolute favourite things are: sushi, chocolate, chick flicks and spending time with my family and friends.

Favourite Quotes?
Ten two letter words: IF IS TO BE, IT IS UP TO ME.

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