Rice University Athletics
Rice Olympians Go Head-to-Head in Sydney
9/20/2000 12:00:00 AM | General
Folk and McDermid are two of seven individuals affiliated with Rice participating in the 2000 Olympic Games.
In Wednesday's action, Folk, in the fifth rowing position, helped guide the Americans to a victory over McDermid and Team Canada in the consolation bracket. Team USA, which won the silver medal at the World Championships, clocked a time of six minutes, 17.36 seconds over the 2000-meter course.
McDermid, who stationed the first spot, aided a late Canadian charge, but had to settle for second just .26 seconds behind the United States. Both the USA and Canada qualified for the final on Sunday.
McDermid, who was an All-America in 1989 and 1990 in track and field at Rice, switched to rowing at age 24 after suffering a stress fracture in her ankle.
"They told me I could never run competitively again," McDermid said. "So I tried rowing and with my conditioning and strength I felt comfortable with it. Plus I knew how to compete. The biggest change for me was going from an individual to a team-oriented sport."
Folk's first involvement with rowing came with the club team at Rice.
"I had run track and field and cross country, and I wanted to do something athletic," Folk said. "I found out about rowing when I got (to Rice) and I loved it."
