Junior Claire Sopko is a 2 time national champion after only 3 years of rowing.
After volleyball was shut down due to the pandemic, Sopko started rowing, and while it took some time to get the hang of it, she ultimately found her place in her quad and a passion for the unique sport. A sport that’s equally tough on the body, and mind.
Through joining her club, Oregon Rowing Unlimited, Sopko has gained confidence and found “a wonderful community of people.”
Because she rows in a quad, a four person boat, the sport relies heavily on teamwork.
“I’m really lucky to have an awesome group of people… for a typical nationals lineup we’ll spend about 10 months training. The sport requires a lot of synchronization and closeness with the teammates,” Sopko said.
Sopko is a sculler, meaning she holds two oars instead of one, and rows in three-seat, meaning she’s one seat from the stern.
Dedicated to her team, Sopko practices every day after school and on the weekends on the Willamette River. When it’s too cold and dangerous to be on the water, she trains on the land. That means running, erging (similar to a rowing machine), and weightlifting. Her hard work has paid off too, as she’s taken the boat all the way to England for the Henley Royal Regatta Race.
“I love being outdoors and close to nature everyday. And I love my event because it’s small enough of a boat that we’re really close and can go really fast,” Sopko said.
Less than a second away from US National Team times, Sopko and her team are working hard to compete at world level this spring. It is very difficult for athletes in the Northwest to race at Nationals due to a limited number of events they can enter, but she hopes to earn another national title this spring as well.
Sopko is also looking forward to rowing in college. “I’m not committed yet, but I’m very excited about the schools I’m talking to,” Sopko said.
Sopko is proud of her team’s accomplishments and can’t wait to see what’s to come as they continue to work towards their goals.
