6 minute read
From the Golden Arrow to Olympic Gold
From the Golden Arrow to Olympic Gold
As a collegiate rower with Olympic aspirations, Connecticut Beta TAYLOR RITZEL was captivated by the Beijing Olympic races while training at a hotel gym in 2008. Watching the Women’s Eight rowing event, she was inspired by the power and tenacity of California Beta ERIN CAFARO, whose gold medal win instilled hope in Taylor that her own Olympic dreams might be possible. Four years later, the two found themselves at the starting line of the 2012 Summer Olympics together, kindling a profound friendship which would impact their lives.
Erin and Taylor both harbored a strong passion for sports growing up, each with unique interests. Erin involved herself in a variety of sports, craving the dynamic of being on a team, while Taylor was a competitive swimmer at heart. When it came time to attend college, both aspired to pursue their athletic careers—Erin with hopes of joining her university’s basketball team and Taylor with determination to continue swimming. However, they were both introduced to rowing as novices and dove into the sport despite initial hesitations.
From its unique community to fierce competition, Erin and Taylor both grew to love rowing and all that it offered. Their ambition led them to win NCAA championships and later join the U.S. Women's National Rowing Team—Erin first in 2006 and Taylor in 2010. As a younger athlete joining the team, Taylor initially struggled to feel a sense of belonging, but it was Erin who changed that experience entirely. “What I loved about Erin is that she welcomed us newer teammates,” Taylor shares. “She was someone on the team everyone wanted to replicate.”
While collegiate athletes require significant strength and dedication, professional athletes face an even greater test of one’s resilience. Although the two were in different stages of their careers when they met, Erin instantly felt drawn to Taylor’s optimism. “It was a difficult training program, some people were easily stressed and took it out on others, but Taylor was consistently smiling,” Erin recalls. “I knew she was going to be a good teammate; what makes the boats go is when someone can add to the positive momentum.”
Despite the rigorous and competitive training, Erin and Taylor fostered a strong bond as they prepared for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Their connection stemmed from sharing not only a positive outlook, but also values and experiences in Pi Phi sisterhood. They discovered this mutual bond from a casual conversation about their
The U.S. Women's National Rowing Team who won a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. From left: Caryn Davies, Caroline Lind, Eleanor Logan, Meghan Musnicki, Mary Whipple Murray, Connecticut Beta TAYLOR RITZEL , Esther Lofgren, Susan Francia and California Beta ERIN CAFARO
collegiate years. As college students who balanced the responsibilities of both sorority and athletic life, connecting with people from various backgrounds felt natural to them. “Having that perspective helped us excel on the team,” Erin says. “Rowing is about teamwork, but it's more so about connecting to someone and helping them see their potential.”
Taylor similarly believes that unity between athletes forms the foundation for a resilient team. “We’re all highly competitive women driven to win,” she says. “Pi Phi gave us the ability to listen, learn and be curious about others and what motivates them, all while being a good teammate.”
Erin and Taylor’s relationship was also defined by their unwavering ambition, even in the face of adversity. In rowing, one of the most common injuries is breaking a rib due to the contraction of muscles and intensive breathing which creates both internal and external pressure. “Going so hard you break your own bone says something about a person, and Taylor and I were both plagued by this,” Erin shares. “When it's high stakes, you want someone like that by your side who would row through a brick wall for you. Taylor and I had this mutual respect because we knew we would push past the pain even if it broke us.”
When it came time to race at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Erin and Taylor were fueled by this ambition, prepared to overcome any obstacles in their path. However, that didn't prevent nerves from surfacing, especially for Taylor’s first Olympic race. “When we finally got to the starting line, I was suddenly so nervous—this was the biggest race of my life,” Taylor shares. To calm herself, Taylor looked to the other women with her, drawing strength from one of her early inspirations—Erin. “I was in the boat with six women who had already won on the Olympic stage, and Erin was a huge part of that. I had these women by my side, so I just told myself to do what I knew how to do.”
Despite injuries and doubts, the U.S. Women's National Rowing Team won gold, with Erin and Taylor sharing the remarkable experience alongside one another. Reflecting on this moment, it's not the win they remember most, but the flood of emotions that followed. “Something not often shared is that winning has a full range of emotions—it's not just pure joy. I was relieved, sad, excited and scared for what was next. The tears are more loaded than people think they are,” Erin says. “On that podium, I remember thinking: we did it, and I already miss them.”
Although this race marked the end of Erin and Taylor’s shared rowing journey, their bond has only grown stronger over the years. As they have pursued their individual career goals and aspirations, their unwavering support for one another has remained constant. No matter which direction they take, they cheer each other on from afar with the same intensity that propelled them to the podium together.
Pi Phi gave us the ability to listen, learn and be curious about others and what motivates them, all while being a good teammate.
