Caryn Davies is a three time Olympian having earned an Olympic medal at each of her Olympic Games, ... [+]
Being a tween is hard enough, but when you are six feet tall at 12 years of age, a whole new category of challenges arises. Towering over her junior high classmates, Caryn Davies was plucked from a supermarket aisle by a perceptive coach who saw the potential for rowing in her physique—a fateful encounter that would set her on a path to greatness. Her journey to Olympic gold is a testament to the perfect blend of natural talent mixed with unyielding dedication and perseverance.
Davies' introduction to rowing may have been serendipitous, but her ascent to the pinnacle of the sport has the making of a Hallmark movie. Starting her competitive rowing journey in high school, she quickly distinguished herself with her natural talent and unwavering determination. Like most competitive athletes, she dabbled in various sports, but it was rowing that provided her with a sense of purpose, belonging, and confidence—a transformative experience that would shape her future.
Olympic gold medalist (rowing), Caryn Davies.
Throughout her collegiate years at Harvard, Davies juggled her academic pursuits while honing her skills on the water, finding solace, friends who were like sisters, and a relentless drive for excellence. Despite the grueling demands of training twice daily, she never wavered in her pursuit of Olympic glory, fueled by an unyielding ambition and an insatiable hunger for success.
Davies' journey, however, was not without its share of setbacks and challenges ranging from injuries to formidable opponents. Davies was undeterred. She was laser-focused on her goal and confronted adversity with the expected resilience and grit, and perhaps most importantly, an unwavering belief in her abilities.
What sets Davies apart is her physical prowess and unwavering commitment to continuous improvement and self-discovery. Over the course of her illustrious career spanning nearly 25 years, three Olympic appearances, and a slew of medals, including two Olympic golds, Davies has embraced the evolving nature of her sport, adapting her training methods and mindset to stay ahead of the curve.
USA’s Women’s Eight coxswain Mary Whipple and teammates Caryn Davies, Caroline Lind, Susan Francia, ... [+]
What sets Davies apart is her understanding of the delicate balance between perseverance and self-compassion. Guided by mentors who instilled in her the importance of kindness and resilience toward herself and others, she learned to navigate the highs and lows of competition with grace and humility, never losing sight of the bigger picture.
For Davies, every race is an opportunity to embrace the joy of competition, revel in the camaraderie of her teammates, and leave a lasting legacy of excellence that transcends the podium. It worked. In addition to her Olympic glory, in March, Davies won the Thomas Keller Medal, the most prestigious international award in the sport of rowing, and became the first and only American to achieve this honor.
In the world of elite athletics, where success is measured in fractions of a second, and the margin for error is razor-thin, Caryn Davies stands as a shining example of resilience, determination, and the enduring power of the human spirit.
Today, in addition to being a lawyer and founder of Podium Law, a law firm for startups and small businesses, she is the President of the US Olympians and Paralympians Association. Davies’ legacy will continue inspiring generations of athletes to reach for their dreams, regardless of odds.
Learn more about Olympic Champion Caryn Davies in the book, The Success Factor.
