The fastest woman on water

Carling Zeeman has the look.

Not in her eyes. In her mind. From the moment her hands touch the oars, Zeeman is looking to be better than she was the last time her hands were on them. This attitude and mental approach to the sport of rowing has made Zeeman one of the best in Canada in her age group (Under-23).

“I’m always pushing myself, every stroke, in practice or competition, always,” she said.

In three years, the 21-year-old former national level speed skater has risen to the cream of the crop in her age category due to a blistering and unrelenting pace she has put forth.

Zeeman, competing for Laurentian University and the Sudbury Rowing Club, was the 2011 Canadian University Female Rower of the Year after winning both the Ontario and national university rowing titles in female single sculls.

She also won her division at the world famous international Henley Regatta, and the gold medal at the U-23 national championship. For her efforts, Zeeman was the clear-cut winner as Laurentian Female Athlete of the Year in April.

Zeeman recently got back from Welland and the national training centre where she was competing for a spot on the Canadian national U-23 team for the world championship in July.

Not too shabby for someone who didn’t start taking up the sport seriously — in the heavyweight single sculls event — until two years ago. It has been a hard climb to the top for Zeeman. She has absorbed crushing defeats and experienced joy from earning big wins on big stages.

No matter what she accomplishes in rowing, Zeeman will never sit back. She has poured her heart and soul into rowing and making it to the top.

“I can never be satisfied thinking I am the best, because I am not,” she said. “There’s always someone out there who wants to be first. I can never relax and I understand this because it is what I want.

“I’ve had my share of last-place finishes. I know what it’s like to be down there and the attitude that’s down there. People at the top have big targets on their backs. I am going to do whatever I can to make sure the target stays on my back.”

Zeeman isn’t primarily focused on the victories and praise. Every time she steps into her boat, there is only one thing she wants to do — improve. This is the key to success in Zeeman’s mind. She wants to be faster and faster. And she isn’t going to allow anything to stand in her way.

“I have always known to never set limits for myself because they become just that — limitations,” she said. “Perhaps the most important lesson I have learned is this will never become easier. I’m not happy with just winning. I’m happy with improving. It’s a humbling experience.

“When I look back, I don’t look at specific awards or wins, it’s my personal improvements that keep me going. I can feel the boat going faster from when I started and there’s nothing more satisfying than that.”

Zeeman has not only come into the sport of rowing and established herself as a premier contender, but her efforts have also helped establish the Laurentian University rowing program and give it instant respect and credit across the country.

Zeeman is willing to do a lot more than others to reach her goals.

“Carling can push herself to the point where most are uncomfortable with and beyond it,” Laurentian rowing coach Amanda Schweinbenz said. “She is intense and has a driving commitment. She is the fastest woman in Canada for her age group and she isn’t complacent with that. It is all her, she makes it happen. She has helped create a name for our program and a link to excellence. We are a known program across the country now.”

Zeeman has the physical attributes to excel, thanks to her 6-2 frame and extensive elite athletic background in speed skating and volleyball. She is lean and mean and adapted quickly to the pace of rowing. Zeeman has also benifitted from training at the national development centre in Welland.

“It has been an amazing year for Carling, and from where she was at the end of the 2010 season to now, is a huge jump and great progress,” Schweinbenz said. “She never sits back and is always working harder to get faster. She is an inspiring athlete. She has no ego and is always engaged and helping teammates.”

Zeeman trains five days a week, two times a day. She’s up working at rowing before the sun rises and finishes as the sun is setting. She is exactly in the place she wants to be.

“It takes hours and hours of practice,” she said. “Not a lot of people realize how much work goes into performing well. And before anything was won, I had spent hundreds of hours practising and practising and practising. All I need is a lake and a boat — I have my boat and we have a beautiful lake in the middle of Sudbury.”

Posted by Arron Pickard