Three-time Olympic gold medalist Ellie Logan plans fall visit to Boothbay

Logan still has one goal left as an Olympic athlete
Wed, 08/17/2016 - 9:30am

    Three-time Olympic gold medalist Ellie Logan is planning a fall visit to Boothbay. Logan, a member of the U.S. Eight National Women’s Rowing team won the gold medal for the third consecutive Olympics Aug. 13 in the 2,000 meter event at the Rio 2016 Games.

    This is likely Logan’s last event as a member of the U.S. National Team, but she plans on continuing in the sport.

    “For now, I’m done training with the national team, but I hope I will always compete as a rower because I love the sport,” she said.

    The U.S. Team is only one of two to win three consecutive gold medals in the Women’s Eight 2,000 meter race. And Logan is the only U.S. rower to win three gold medals in the race. Logan said her dedication to the sport and becoming the best athlete possible was her motivation to compete in another Olympics. In her two previous Olympics, Logan attended Stanford University where she balanced training with her studies.

    Since her 2011 graduation, she has trained with the U.S. National team.

    “My motivation over the past four years was to become the best athlete I could. The past quad was the first time I’ve been totally dedicated to training and rowing,” she said. “I wanted to dedicate myself for four years and grow and reach my full potential as an athlete.”

    The U.S. National Team has won the past three Olympic gold medals and every World Championship since 2006 in the Women’s Eight 2,000 meter race. Logan attributes the team’s dominance to a group of women being dedicated to the sport and ready to perform when it mattered most.

    “For me the Olympic Games are all about the racing. I will remember the focus and confidence our boat had leading into the race. We faced a lot of pressure and that allowed us to do the best we possibly could on the day it mattered. And have a race we could be really proud of,” Logan said.

    With the Rio Games ending this week, Logan has one last act to complete as an Olympian: participating in the Aug. 21 closing ceremony. Her husband, Carlos Dinares, father Bill Logan, and stepmother Jaimie Logan are all in Rio De Janeiro with her during the games. Ellie Logan plans on watching several Olympic events before the closing ceremony and visit the city’s iconic statue: Christ Redeemer.

    “I’m trying to see as much of the city as I can because it’s so beautiful,” Logan said. “Our time is limited, but I really wanted to hike up to Christ Redeemer. We had such a great view of it the whole time we were rowing. It will be fun to see the rowing venue from a much different perspective.”

    After visiting Boothbay this fall, Logan and her husband will return to their home in Seattle.