Princeton University Athletics
Emma Hopkins will compete at the U-23 World Championships in August.
Photo by: US Rowing/Princeton Rowing
Incoming Rower Emma Hopkins Will Represent Tiger Lightweight Women At U-19 Worlds
July 28, 2016 | Women's Rowing - Lightweight
Emma Hopkins sat on the line at Mercer Lake, knowing she was surrounded by more experienced rowers in this final at the U-23 World Championships Trials. Without even a race of collegiate experience under her belt, she could have accepted the fact that there would be other U-23 opportunities to come, and perhaps she would be better prepared for them.
She could have done that. She chose the more direct path, though.
Hopkins and teammate Olivia Farrar won their four-boat final in 7:04.26, more than two seconds faster than a runner-up boat made up of two members of the current Radcliffe varsity eight. The other two boats were more than six seconds behind Hopkins, who achieved a lifetime goal far sooner than she anticipated.
"I'm absolutely thrilled to have this opportunity," she said. "Making a national team has been a long term goal for me for a while, and it is surreal and wonderful to have that dream become a reality so much sooner than I had anticipated.
"I am really hoping to gain a broader perspective on what 'fast' is to help myself set new personal goals for speed," Hopkins added. "This summer I have been trying to push myself to a whole new level of training and competition. Going to Worlds will be a great way to continue that process. My doubles partner and I are both relatively young athletes, and we are very excited to continue developing as athletes through the experience of racing at Worlds. I believe that it will be an incredibly eye-opening experience and one that will shape my passion for the sport and help me to channel my drive into the next few seasons."
Hopkins and Farrar will head to the U-23 World Championships, which will be held Aug. 21-28 in Rotterdam, one of the biggest cities of The Netherlands. Hopkins will find a number of future boathouse teammates in Rotterdam; Emily Kallfelz (open), Trey Francis (heavyweight), Nick Mead (heavyweight), Dan de Groot (heavyweight, Canada) and former captain Martin Barakso (heavyweight, Canada). While she is excited to make her international debut for Team USA, Hopkins is equally excited to begin her career on Lake Carnegie.
"I am so honored to be included on the Princeton lightweight team," Hopkins said. "I cannot wait to join with these girls to continue building the team's speed and, most of all, to just keep on rowing."
She could have done that. She chose the more direct path, though.
Hopkins and teammate Olivia Farrar won their four-boat final in 7:04.26, more than two seconds faster than a runner-up boat made up of two members of the current Radcliffe varsity eight. The other two boats were more than six seconds behind Hopkins, who achieved a lifetime goal far sooner than she anticipated.
"I'm absolutely thrilled to have this opportunity," she said. "Making a national team has been a long term goal for me for a while, and it is surreal and wonderful to have that dream become a reality so much sooner than I had anticipated.
"I am really hoping to gain a broader perspective on what 'fast' is to help myself set new personal goals for speed," Hopkins added. "This summer I have been trying to push myself to a whole new level of training and competition. Going to Worlds will be a great way to continue that process. My doubles partner and I are both relatively young athletes, and we are very excited to continue developing as athletes through the experience of racing at Worlds. I believe that it will be an incredibly eye-opening experience and one that will shape my passion for the sport and help me to channel my drive into the next few seasons."
Hopkins and Farrar will head to the U-23 World Championships, which will be held Aug. 21-28 in Rotterdam, one of the biggest cities of The Netherlands. Hopkins will find a number of future boathouse teammates in Rotterdam; Emily Kallfelz (open), Trey Francis (heavyweight), Nick Mead (heavyweight), Dan de Groot (heavyweight, Canada) and former captain Martin Barakso (heavyweight, Canada). While she is excited to make her international debut for Team USA, Hopkins is equally excited to begin her career on Lake Carnegie.
"I am so honored to be included on the Princeton lightweight team," Hopkins said. "I cannot wait to join with these girls to continue building the team's speed and, most of all, to just keep on rowing."
Tuesday, June 04
Wednesday, June 22
Tuesday, June 07
Monday, June 06