Shawn Marie Boyne

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Rowing

I started rowing in 1977 after watching women’s rowing make its Olympic debut at the 1976 Olympics. I owe much of my passion for rowing to Burt Apfelbaum who tried to dissuade me from trying out for the women’s crew team at Mount Holyoke College by insinuating that I was too small for the sport. In an era when women athletics was just beginning and our stamina, strength, and sexuality were routinely challenged, I developed a passion for rowing under Burt’s tutelage.

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More importantly, the knowledge gleaned from rowing when I thought I could not pull one more stroke instilled in me the self-confidence that I could reach deeper and pull harder. These lessons served me well later when I faced challenges that were more significant than attempting to cross an imaginary finish line. As my famous younger brother would tell you, I am not a gifted rower, but I am a passionate one.

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My rowing career would not have been possible if my parents had not encouraged my athletic interests and supported my battles to open doors that remained closed and blocked my participation. My outspoken mother reputedly told the nuns who were in charge of my primary school education that I was free to play sports with the boys as long as I was good enough to beat them. When I reached high school, my dad took a day off work to educate school authorities about the First Amendment when the school tried to shut down my Watergate-era “Committee to Investigate Discrimination against Female Athletes.” Finally, I cannot forget to mention my high school cross-country coach, Bill Falk. I will never forget his stare and consternation when I complained that it was too cold to run a cross-country race when the thermostat said thirty-five degrees.
 

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