Donna Pili is a San Diego native whose childhood desire to play sports was restrained by the need to help her immigrant Filipino parents. She remembers watching rowing on TV during the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, but it wasn’t until nearly 30 years later, in an effort to retake control of her life, that she committed to learn to row. Since then, Donna’s found community at ZLAC and San Diego Rowing Club, and has traveled the world as a member of Endeavor Racing Alliance.

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Categories: culture, training

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QUICK LOOK

02:10 - Rachel met Donna at SteeringUWright camp in Tempe; Lesleh Wright was Donna’s first coach at ZLAC

04:12 - Getting into a pair with a new partner, wet launches, and sharing the water with non-rowers

09:23 - Rapid Fire Q&A

10:55 - Watching the ‘84 Olympic rowing, not having time for sports as a kid, and committing to learning to row as an adult

17:20 - Opening a restaurant to honor her Dad

19:45 - Getting involved with Chinook Performance Racing and Endeavor Racing Alliance

24:19 - Coaches Lesleh Wright and Lindsay Dare Shoop give us the scoop on Donna

26:30 - Raising the bar for masters, and creating supportive environments for masters women

32:18 - Local, national, and international racing plans for 2023; being open to learning in any environment, in any boat, with rowers of all experience levels

36:43 - Considering the possibility of a perfect stroke

40:55 - Finding Karaoke in London between practices for Henley

47:59 - After the show …

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To see photos of Donna, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

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This episode is made possible in part by Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, and our Patrons.