By Curtis Gordon
It was not the end Abbey Maillet had hoped for.
Maillet had a successful first season with the LU rowing team in 2019-2020. She finished 5th at the OUA Championships for lightweight singles.
This February, she went on to win gold in the 2021 Canadian Indoor Rowing Championships in the U23 2000m Women’s Lightweight race. With this victory, the second-year rowing athlete had qualified for the 2021 World Rowing Indoor Championships, which were held virtually last week.
Unfortunately, Maillet recently suffered a wrist injury that kept her from competing in the competition.
Despite the injury, Maillet was pleased with how her unorthodox season turned out overall.
“It’s unfortunate, but I think overall it was a great season,” she said.
Maillet has spent the year training both from home, as well as at The Ontario Next Gen Performance Center in Welland, alongside Amanda Schweinbenz, coach of the LU rowing team. Schweinbenz is also the head coach at the facility.
Maillet believes that her time training at the Ontario Performance Center, which just opened last year, has been key to her success.
“I’ve been able to train with some really great athletes, and I think that helped me achieve what I have so far,” Maillet said.
“It’s great. They [the Next Gen Centre] have lots of ergs [ergometers], equipment, a weight room, and they just renovated it and expanded it. There’s a lot more resources.”
Maillet said the season was unique because she was still able to compete despite the cancellation of the regular rowing season.
Like many student-athletes, she missed the structure of a normal season but was happy that she was still able to compete in an actual competitive event this year.
Maillet competed in the 2021 Canadian Indoor Rowing Competition virtually – connected from a screen in her home.
“At first, I didn’t even know if it was going to happen,” Maillet said, “but once they said it was going to go virtually, it was very cool how they were able to connect all of the ergs from all over. I was racing against some people that were in B.C.”
For the race, all rowers were part of a database and they all connected their ergs for the virtual competition.
“It’s very different,” said Maillet. “When I was racing, I was just in my basement by myself. Normally there’s spectators, you have your coaches there, you’re beside people, which also pushes you.”
Despite the unusual circumstances, Maillet was thrilled to be able to compete and have success in a year that has seen so many athletic seasons cancelled altogether.
Bright Future
Maillet has continued to follow a strict training plan and is laser-focused on her future as a rower.
“I’m looking forward to next year,” Maillet said. “I’m just going to keep training. Being in lockdown right now, I’m at home currently training, but I have still been on the erg and I’m biking lots now.”
Maillet is just in her second year at Laurentian but is looking to continue her journey with Team Canada after she graduates.
“Being a part of the performance center in Welland definitely helps me on a path in that direction, so I’m just going to keep following it, and see where it goes,” Maillet said.
Selections for the U23 Canadian National Team are currently being discussed. Maillet continues to focus on her training, hoping she will have the opportunity to try out for the team later this year.