Ten years ago, I sailed in the Olympics in Athens. And over the past few weeks, I relived the worst day all over again, in order to write Olympic Broach: The No Good Very Bad Windiest Day.

Cathartic? Maybe. Agonizing? Definitely. The biggest lesson was that the least-flattering memories remain the most stubbornly vivid, even after a full decade of being buried at the bottom of my mind.

Athens 2004 Olympic sailing team

Our team gets ready to march into the Opening Ceremonies: Carol, coach Tony Rey, Liz Filter, and Nancy Haberland.



A comment on the story reminded me of why the Olympics remain such a sturdy pinnacle of achievement: a gold medal is a gold medal, across all sports. "After reading THE BOYS IN THE BOAT, I think I can understand your essay, and a good one it is." I don't have much in common with that 8 man crew from Seattle who won rowing gold at the 1936 Olympics, but our goal going into the two events (separated by 68 years) was exactly the same. 

But it's another comment, from a fellow editor, that finally turned all my stomach bile to laughter. "I'm reading along... And of course the whole time I'm picturing you approaching those jibes, and knowing what's going to come I'm thinking, "Wear ship, woman!! Wear ship!" Fortunately, some things have changed since the ancient days of sailing.

As I write this, there's a fresh round of athletes pouring heart and soul into preparing for Rio 2016—and all of them can already taste that not-yet-won medal. Many will (like me) come home from their Olympics empty-handed. Fortunately, the real reward is in the journey—so 10 years later, I can honestly say I wouldn't change one moment of the adventure.

Though I wouldn't mind a do-over of that No Good, Very Bad, Windiest Day.

Written by: Carol Cronin
Carol Cronin has published several novels about the Olympics, sailing, hurricanes, time travel, and old schooners. She spends as much time on the water as possible, in a variety of boats, though most have sails.