Racing our heat!
On Saturday morning, Sarah Zelenka and I lined up against some of the world’s best for our heat in the pair. We raced Romania, Argentina, Germany, and Great Britain. Sarah and I had a solid performance, and finished second behind GB’s Helen Glover and Heather Stanning, which shot us directly to the final (we get to avoid the last chance round) and a chance to race for Gold. I think Sarah and I did a really great job of approaching the race in a level-headed manner…we were just excited and ready to have a good time. If you watch the coverage of us at the start, you can actually catch us chatting and laughing at each other a bit. I know I’ve said this before, but it is really hard to NOT have a good time when we are in the boat together!
We have a few days off from racing before the final on Wednesday at 11:50am (6:50am EST). We’re using this time to prepare for a very fast, very different final, when we know all the big guns will come out and really show their stuff. I can’t wait to see what we’ve got.
For those of you that are looking for a better way to follow all of our racing and the media that comes along with it, make sure you check out Row2k’s Olympic Coverage. This is the premier rowing news website, and they are doing an amazing job covering the games. Check out their albums for pictures of Sarah and I, and articles summarizing our racing.
Also, make sure to follow my twitter page @SaraHendershot, because this is where I am doing all of my quick updates on things I’m seeing around the rowing course and how things are going with us. Thanks again for all of the support! I love reading all of your messages and emails — they mean so much to me!
Sarah and I after our heat finish that advanced us directly to the final
Sara Hendershot 
good luck on Wednesday! You guys are awesome!
Best wishes ladies. Great row!
You guys are such great competitors! You looked awesome Saturday! Your mom’s tennis team is behind you even though we don’t have your mom with us for our championship this weekend. Big loss for us but we will try and rally and win it for her. Your parents are so proud of you and so am I. Believe you can do it! Good luck sara(h)s
We had a whole crowd watching and rooting you on here….so proud! It is GREAT that you go directly to the finals. We have our alarms set already for the wee hours here in Boston on Wednesday to watch you live. GO SARA!!
You are amazing, Sara! I can’t wait to see you compete in the finals! Good luck!
From your cousin in Oregon. Go, Sara, go!
Sara – Good Luck!! We are having a live streaming party at the High School tomorrow morning. Everyone in town is so excited. We are all so proud of you!! All the best, Ann and Mark
Sara! An amazing race this morning! I saw you win gold in Bled last summer and was hoping to see a repeat in London. While you don’t have a gold medal around your neck, you and Sarah gave an olympic gold medal effort!! Our family extends our deepest congratulations to you both on a great race this morning and especially on all the effort, hard work, determination, perserverance, sacrifice and heart you’ve given and made since joining the national team. Your memories will last a lifetime and will pave the way for outstaning achievement in the future both on and off the water! Our best wishes always!
Sara, I thought this article from US Rowing on your boatmate would appeal to you and all your friends so I’m pasting a link. http://www.usrowing.org/News/12-07-31/A_Parting_Gift_of_Friendship_and_Love.aspx