Quick Look

quick_lookName: Megan Kalmoe
Stats: 5’10″ / 160 lb.
Birthdate: August 21, 1983
Birthplace: Minneapolis, MN
Hometown:  Saint Croix Falls, WI

I am a two-time member of the United States Women’s Olympic Rowing Team. I competed in the London 2012 Olympic Games in the Women’s Quadruple Sculls and won a bronze medal–the first ever Olympic medal in that event for the United States.  I also competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the Women’s Double Sculls where I finished fifth.

Undergraduate: University of Washington, 2006
Degrees: English, BA ; Latin, BA

I am a 2006 graduate of the University of Washington, where I learned to row as a sophomore.  I walked on to the Team in 2002, and by my senior year was the Varsity Captain and an All American.

Started Rowing: 2002, University of Washington
Currently Training: USRowing Training Center, Princeton, NJ
Club Affiliation: New York Athletic Club

I moved to Princeton, New Jersey in 2006 to train full time with the National Team. I have rowed on two Olympic Teams and three Senior World Championship Teams (2009-2011) in the Women’s Double Sculls and Women’s Quadruple Sculls.  I won a silver medal at the 2011 World Championships in the Women’s Quadruple Sculls.

I am part of the women’s sculling team

(sculling: two oars each athlete; sweeping: one oar each athlete) which means I have never competed in the US Women’s flagship event, the Women’s Eight.  I have dedicated my career to improving the profile of women’s sculling the United States and creating medal opportunities for American athletes in the Women’s Double Sculls and Women’s Quadruple Sculls.  I am the smallest rower on the US Team but what I lack in size I make up for in feistiness and attitude.  I have a reputation for having a big mouth and for having big hair.

I am an active blogger and multimedia nerd, and have been documenting my training and travels with the Team since 2007.  I bring my Kodak Playsport, Canon Rebel T3, MacBook Pro and iPad with me on team trips as my primary means of capturing my experiences and sharing them on the web.

OTHER INTERESTS: world travel; US National Parks; hiking the Triple Crown; cooking and baking; gardening; knitting; drawing; film; music; playing Mario Kart 64; foreign languages; coffee, wine and beer; Conlin McCabe; Netflix; Robert Downey Junior; Dancing With the Stars; USRowing High Performance Committee (athlete representative)

3 responses on “Quick Look”

  1. Hi Megan. I’m Bob Spaulding. I work with your Uncle Bob in Fort Worth. He’s quite proud of you. He was looking this morning at a pic of you rowing in Poznan Poland, where I just happen to be going back to this fall. I wish you all the best in you competition. I see you also have his love of espresso. I keep a machine down in my lab and Bob comes down for a hit now and then. Good Luck in all your endeavors, Bob.

  2. Megan, thank you so much for your time yesterday and the attention that you gave my daughter Meaghan. We met you in the cafe in Kingston, you let Meaghan hold your medal, talked to her, and I have to say she was absolutely thrilled – it made her day. Congratulations again on your Olympic results. As my sister in law stated to me “The women rowers rock!”, and I can attest that they do! Good luck to you.

  3. Hi Megan,
    I met you at the Eagles pre-season game on the field before the game. Thank you very much for taking a photo with me, and for all the time you gave to everyone who asked for a photo or autograph. It was a pleasure meeting you, and I just wanted to tell you I think you are a great representative for US Rowing. You’ve got a wonderful blog going. I’ve enjoyed reading about your adventues.

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