I’m a lightweight girl rower and our top 4 lightweight girls are doing a quad and I am glad my work has paid off so that I am in it. I have a very good friend on the team who is the girl that I basically beat out for the spot, although everyone says I deserve it over her by a lot. Lately she’s been very nasty and rude, especially to me and makes me feel like I shouldn’t be in the spot. She’s also said she refuses to race because she won’t win. What should I do to make her stop being so mean?
Her bitchy attitude is so not your problem. You should be glad that your hard work paid off and yea, it sucks that you were competing against a friend for that spot in the boat but sometimes that’s what happens. The key to not letting it become an issue is to recognize the fact that you’ve both been putting the work in and ultimately the better rower will “win” the seat. Maturity and respect are also important … and common sense. If she can so easily change her attitude from “friendly” to “nasty and rude” over something so inconsequential, do you really think she’s someone deserving of that spot anyways? Probably not.
If she’s stooping to that level of immaturity by refusing to race simply because she won’t win, her priorities are messed up and that’s her issue to deal with, not yours. If it gets to the point where she crosses a line and your coach needs to be involved, then by all means, talk with your coach, but until then ignore her, worry about yourself, and be the bigger person. You won that spot in the boat. Don’t make your coach question his/her decision by bringing yourself down to her level. Focus on the other three girls in your boat and ensuring that your hard work continues to pay off.