Bonikowsky realizes Olympic dream
Tuesday June 24 2008 By Mike Rawn, Staff Writer Orangeville’s Sarah Bonikowsky has earned a spot at the upcoming Beijing Olympics, following a win by her Canadian women’s eight rowing team at an Olympic qualifier on Thursday.
Bonikowsky, 25, helped Canada to a first place finish at the qualifier in Poznan, Poland, finishing ahead of the Dutch and Chinese crews.
“It’s hard to describe how this moment feels,” Bonikowsky said. “We spent all of the 2006-07 season training to qualify, and the memory of that race in Munich at the World Championships last summer, when we missed qualifying by one spot, has been my primary motivator for training this whole year. By the time we were sitting in the start gates at the qualifier this year, I had been in preparation for that moment for two years. To not have to worry about it anymore… to not have to say, ‘If we go to the Olympics…’ is such an exciting feeling that still doesn’t seem fully real. To have been part of that difficult year of re-selection, and the hardest training program I could have imagined, and to come out with a ticket to the next stage of my Olympic dream, is incredible.”
Although Canada had a reasonable start to the race, the Dutch boat went ahead early.
“[The Dutch] had gained 3/4 of a boat by the first 500 [metres], and our coxswain Lesley [Thompson-Willie] confessed later that she had been a little worried,” Bonikowsky said.  “We got into a great rhythm early on however, and were able to just sit there and do the work we needed to do. Lesley called an amazing race, and kept us really focussed.”
The Canadian boat passed China and was second with 500 metres remaining, and in a heart stopping finish, passed the Dutch with seven strokes to go. Bonikowsky says the team is “excited and relieved” following the qualifying win, but there is little time to savour the accomplishment. With the Olympic Games only six weeks away, the Canadian team will be training for the tough competition that awaits them in Beijing. That includes 11 rows (up to 200km, and 25 hours on the water) per week, plus additional strength training.  
“We’ve trained so hard already to get this far, that there’s no way anyone will settle for anything less than going for gold,” Bonikowsky said. “The competition will be fierce, and the trend of racing indicates that the women’s 8+ will be one of the fastest and closest events at the Olympic Regatta. The Americans are two-time world champions, the Australians are the current World Cup leaders, and the Romanians have an incredible amount of experience in their 8+. Everyone will be strong, but we saw so many favourites fall at last year’s World Championships, that it will be anyone’s race come the final.”

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