Olympic Profiles: Q&A With Rob Munn
October 27, 2016 | Men's Rowing
Washington Rowing women's head coach Yaz Farooq is no stranger to the Olympics Games. She coxed the U.S. women's eights at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics and worked as a rowing commentator for NBC's Olympic broadcasts in Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012. In Rio, she was a researcher for former UW coxswain Mary Whipple, '02, who served in her first year as a rowing broadcaster during the Games.
In Rio, Farooq caught up with Rob Munn, '12, who rowed in the U.S. men's eight that took fourth:
Rob Munn
Hometown: Redmond, WA
USRowing Teams: Senior 2013-16; U-23 2010-12; Junior 2008
UW Major: Political Science with a Minor in History
Personal: Eagle Scout
Yaz Farooq: How did training at Washington help you prepare for the Olympics?
Rob Munn: The biggest thing was that the environment at UW was so competitive. Every day you were fighting for your seat. Practices were tough. You were expected to excel every day. You were expected to perform in school. For national team, it's training without the school, but you need to bring that mental attitude every day. You can spend three years working hard without seeing where you're going before you have a breakthrough. Having the right kind of work ethic here helped me stay focused there, and was the biggest thing for me personally.
YF: What was your favorite Olympic memory from Rio?
RM: I got to watch the U.S. women win the bronze medal in beach volleyball. They had just come off of a tough match before that in the semis (against Brazil) and to see them come back and play for a medal against the Netherlands was really cool. We had met them during Olympic processing on our way to Rio, so getting to see them do that was pretty awesome.
After the races Sam Ojserkis and a group of other guys and I hiked up to Christ the Redeemer. It was really sweet to get up there and see it. You can see the entire city. The geography is so unique in Rio. We went two days after closing ceremonies and we were able to take in the whole area from a difference perspective and of course see the race course below. Taking all of that in after competing was really cool.
YF: What is your biggest takeaway from the experience?
RM: When you cross the finish line you think about all the work that it took to get there. Everyone's journey is different, but it's a very emotional moment, especially when you get fourth and you were trying to get on the podium. It's a pretty overwhelming feeling, but you also remember the support of Husky Nation and your family and your friends and it all comes rolling in at that moment. I had the opportunity to represent my country and compete on the highest stage in the world of rowing and I got to do that. Now I'm taking some time to relax in Seattle. I could come back and row again, or I could go into the workforce. Whatever I plan, I know I need to stick to it.
YF: What's your favorite UW memory?
RM: Winning the IRA's in 2012 was a pretty big highlight for me. I had been in the V8, but never for the IRA, and we won and we set the course record on the Cooper River. That was a very special memory for me and for all the guys in the boat.
YF: You love the Mariners, so what should every Seattle fan know about them?
RM: They should know about this young closer Edwin Diaz. He's going to be an exciting player for the team. I hope they keep him around for a while!
