Rowing provided a place to go, a community where people cared about what I did and what I achieved.

I'm not from a maple producing area and so my maple syrup credentials are very much of the eating side.

Rowing provided a place to go, a community where people cared about what I did and what I achieved.

I think what it takes to succeed remains the same. You have to have a real love of your sport to carry you through all the bad times, you still want to go ski even when things aren't working. You must have a commitment to work hard and to never give up.

I am thrilled yet overwhelmed. There are so many great women athletes, some incredible performances.

If it's not 100 per cent pure maple syrup, it can't be called 'pure maple syrup.