If you had to choose one, what is your FAVORITE rowing and FAVORITE coxswain quote(s)?

My favorite coxswain quote is this one. I have it written on a post-it note and stuck on the inside of my notebook.

“Strive to be a great coxswain, not just a good coxswain. Of all the coxswains in the world, 50% are just plain bad, 30% are decent, 15% are good, and only 5% are great. Strive to be great.”

My favorite rowing quote is a little harder to pick but here are two I really like.

“One of the unique aspects of rowing is that novices strive to perfect the same motions as Olympic contenders. Few other sports can make this claim. In figure skating, for instance, the novice practices only simple moves. After years of training, the skater then proceeds to the jumps and spins that make up an elite skater’s program. But the novice rower, from day one, strives to duplicate a motion that he’ll still be doing on the day of the Olympic finals.”

The one above is from Brad Alan Lewis and the one below is attributed to an exercise and sports science professor from South Africa named Tim Noakes.

“Your body will argue that there is no justifiable reason to continue. Your only recourse is to call on your spirit, which fortunately functions independently of logic.”