My City August 2022

For the LOVE of the SPORT BY MARK SPEZIA

In the beginning, Ellen Tomek’s rowing goals were rather modest. Not long after starting classes at the University of Michigan in the fall of 2002, the former Flint Powers Catholic basketball and softball standout found herself seeking a new competitive outlet. e answer came in the form of a ier announcing tryouts for the University’s Novice Women’s Rowing Team. “My biggest goal at the time was ƒnding a way to stay ƒt and not experience the weight gain that sometimes hap pens to college freshmen,”Tomek recalls. “I saw the ier for rowing tryouts and felt I would love to be in a sport where you get to drive to a lake to practice, because I spent so much time on the water growing up. So, it was a great way to stay in shape, meet new people and avoid putting on the ‘Freshman 15’ pounds.” Tomek, who treasures time spent at her grandfather’s cabin on Avalon Lake in Hillman, made the squad and accomplished that goal. She didn’t gain an ounce and was soon dreaming bigger dreams. From that point, Tomek began a crazy ascension in the sport, pursuing and realizing ever loftier goals. In a mere six years, she transformed from novice to Olympian. By the next season,Tomek was promoted to the Second Varsity Eight boat. As a senior, she moved up to the First Varsity Eight, made Second-team All-Big Ten, Sec ond-team All-American and was named Michigan’s Rower of the Year. Later that same year (2006),Tomek made the ƒrst of 11 appearances in a Team USA uniform, placing fourth in the pairs competition at the U23 World Champi onships with former Michigan teammate, Stesha Carle. e next year, Tomek competed in her ƒrst World Championships, ƒnishing sixth in quadruple sculls. At the 2008 Olympics, she placed ƒfth in double sculls with partner, Megan Kalmoe. By the time Tomek ƒnally retired last year, she had placed in the top ten at three Olympic Games and in the top six at ƒve World Championships, including two medals. She also won ƒve Rowing World Cup medals and was named 2017 Female Rowing Athlete of the Year by US Rowing. 

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROW2K

At the recent Tokyo Olympics, Tomek (front) with Meghan O’Leary, Alie Rusher and Cicely Madden finished 10th in quadruple sculls.

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