Q&A with Olympic Rower, Cormac Folan

Cormac Folan represented Ireland at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing

Your ideal ipod play-list while training?

80’s rock always, something like “more than a feeling” by Boston and Rage against the machine are always good. The best training song is Voodoo people by Prodigy though.

Your favourite regatta venue?

Obviously Lucerne is up there, I also like Poznan though as it is usually a fast course.

Who are your sporting idols?

Drew Ginn, Steve Redgrave, Ronan O’Gara and Ryan Giggs.

Your greatest achievement/sporting moment within rowing?

I suppose it has to be representing Ireland at the Olympics.

The best coach you have worked under?

The two senior Coaches I’ve had: Tom Tuohy and Harald Jahrling.

How many times have you thought: Why am I doing this?

Probably before every race, so a lot!

Is it true there is a McDonald’s in the Olympic village and you can eat as much as you like?

Yes, we ate a lot of McDonald’s  when we had finished competing! We usually arrived in after a night out when they were changing over to the breakfast menu so I became well aquainted with Egg McMuffins!

What’s worse – ERG or Weights?

ERG.

Biggest sacrifice you have made due to rowing?

Sex, Drugs and Rock and roll.

Any advice for youngsters starting out?

Rowing is a fantastic team sport. Most youngsters want to belong to a group and getting involved with rowing provides a place to go and meet people and get involved in something fun and competitive. My advice would be to enjoy it and if you decide you want to commit to it, make sure you don’t let anything stand in the way of your goals.

You can read the full interview with Cormac here.