Article by Blanka P. S1 (BP) and Csanád K. S2 (Cs. K)
Today we are interviewing Vilmos B (VB). He is in S4 and participated at a rowing event just a week ago in the Campionati Italiani Race. He is in the Canottieri Monate team.
Here you can find the podcast of this interview in Hungarian (Sharepoint): https://eursc.sharepoint.com/sites/VAR-Redazione/Shared%20Documents/General/Interj%C3%BA%20Bencz%C3%BAr%20Vilmossal.wav
BP: How many times do you go training every week?
VB: It depends on what race we are training for. For this race, sometimes I went to training 8 times a week. We also trained before school, in the mornings and every day after school, and on weekends too.
Cs K: Were you nervous before the race?
VB: The race was divided into two days. The first day was my category’s day. I was nervous then. The next day we were only there for the experience, so there was nothing to be nervous about.
BP: Are you bored of rowing?
VB: No, it’s less exciting in the winter because we don't get to go outside much, but in spring and summer, it’s really enjoyable.
Cs. K: After the race was there an award ceremony?
VB: In a normal year, everyone would gather together and there would be a ceremony, but because of the coronavirus, this was not possible. So there was only a small gathering.
BP: What preparation was there before the race? Did you have to be there earlier?
VB: We had to assemble the boat a few days before the race, then we brought it to the race and trained there a couple of times. Before the first race, we had to be there two hours earlier.
Cs. K: How many people were there at the race?
VB: About 1,000 to 2,000 people took part altogether.
BP: On what lake was the race?
VB: It was on the lake of Varese, in Gavirate.
Cs. K: Were there spectators?
VB: Normally there would be spectators but this time only the coaches and people taking part in the race were let in. However, the race was streamed live, so others could view it online.
BP: Were you in a team or did you race separately?
VB: So I raced in steerless two (in which two people race in the same boat), steered four and steered eight. In the eight and four there is just one person who steers the boat.
Cs. K: Did you have to race against teammates?
VB: No, I did not because there weren’t many of us, and in the steered eight all of us were in the boat. But it did happen that I saw one of my old teammates who now trains at another club: we saw him race, which was kind of funny.
BP: What was your placement?
VB: In the two-person boat race, we were 2nd. In the eight-person boat, in our category, we were 3rd. But in the junior category, since nearly everyone was older by at least two years, we didn’t get into the finals. In the four-person boat, quite to our surprise, we were 6th and we did get into the finals.
Cs. K: Did you get any gifts after the race?
VB: No, but since we had to wear a Coop shirt for every race (Coop was sponsoring us), in the end, I left with about five shirts.
PB: When was the race?
VB: It was last week, starting on the 10th.
Cs. K: Did you get medals?
VB: Yes, we did, they are nice and big.
BP: How do you train and how do you still juggle your schoolwork?
VB: Luckily I can concentrate on the lessons and I understand things well, so I don’t really have to study at home. It does happen that I sometimes go to bed quite late after training because I have to study.
Cs. K: Did your parents give you anything for your performance?
VB: Well no, but I didn’t really expect them to. They already take me to all my races and training which sacrifices a lot of their time so I think that’s enough of a present for me.
Thank you, Vilmos.
Thank you for the opportunity.