NHILL rower Lucy Stephan may have finished last in her rowing heat at Lagoa Stadium on Monday but her family was proud as punch.
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The Australian women’s eight had just two weeks to prepare in Melbourne after receiving their late Olympic call up to replace the disqualified Russians.
The team finished with a 6:22.68 time with winning United States team finishing in 6:06.34.
Lucy’s mother Mandy Stephan watched proudly from her living room with the family as her daughter took to the water on Monday.
“It’s Lucy’s gig. We just sat there in front of the television and cheered her on,” she said.
“It was a proud moment. She’s worked very hard to get where she’s got, she just loves the rowing.
“It’s a bit overwhelming for the family, we are not used to this spotlight!”
Mrs Stephan said the family has left Lucy alone to concentrate on what she needs to do.
“We went to Melbourne and saw her off at the airport and wished her all the best,” she said.
“She’s in race mode now and has a job to do.
“We allow her to make contact with us first, we know she has to concentrate on what she’s doing.
“Rowing is a lot of mind and body and they need to work well together.”
Mrs Stephan said she did enjoy receiving one particular message from Lucy.
“I texted her and told her I was going to be on the radio early this morning. She replied saying ‘go mum go!’,” she said.
“She’s enjoying the moment I think.
“We hope it all goes well and they enjoy it.
“It’s a big ask to get in the final but you never know and you have to be in it win it.”
Lucy told the Sydney Morning Herald she had to wipe the smile off her face as she got in the water to race.
“I took the first three strokes and I was like, ‘Wow, this is pretty cool’ and I had a big smile on my face and I had to get my mind back in the boat,” she said.
“It’s just an amazing experience and for our first two-kilometre race since qualification (in May) it was good to go out there and give it a red-hot crack.
“It wasn’t the best preparation but we’re taking the opportunity and going with it.”
The Australians will now race in the repechage round on Wednesday while the USA has progressed to Saturday’s medal decider.
