Paris Olympics 2024: Nearly Giving Up Rowing in 2016, Kara Kohler Qualifies for Third Stint

Qualifying for the Olympic Games for the third time, Kara Kohler has successfully etched her name in the 2024 Paris Olympics as an American female crew rower. Though this year has been great for her, the success has come after a long time of wait and perseverance as she was thoughtful of quitting the sport a few years back.

A bronze medalist at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, Kara Kohler could not make up to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and, after failing for approximately three consecutive years to make it either to the Olympics or the World Championships, Kohler had nearly quit rowing. She later qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and finished ninth in the single sculls. And now, after such a roller coaster journey, the year 2024 started great with a massive comeback by qualifying for the Olympic Rowing Trials that were held in Sarasota, Florida.

After winning the single sculls, the 33-year-old Kara Kohler was announced as a qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games this season. The NBC Olympics and Paralympics’ post on X stated, “It’s a dream come true for Kara Kohler to qualify for a third Olympic Games in front of her family.” Her family, who has been the strongest backbone ever since she felt low on the sport, has been the most influential people for Kara Kohler because the rower dedicates her strong comeback to him.

Punching her ticket to the Paris Olympics this year, she has proved her mettle once again and now aims to get her almost a decade-long dream fulfilled in the upcoming Games. However, she is overwhelmed by looking back on how she has come this way long, after almost thinking of quitting competitive rowing just a few years back.

From failure to coming back stronger

After taking nearly three months off from rowing, Kara Kohler did not wish to pursue the sport further after experiencing a few downfalls in more than a couple of years. “I didn’t know if it was worth it for me to keep trying when I had failed for three years to be named to a world championship team or the Olympic team,” she had told SI.com during the Tokyo Olympics. “So I was like, `Whoa, whoa. Something really needs to change. Or maybe my time is up in rowing,” she further added.

An earlier conqueror at the quadruple sculls events, Kara Kohler thus added up another segment to her usual skill – the single sculls. After how tragic she felt after the 2016 Olympics, this was probably her best move, which has proved this year after she qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics. She has worked on her techniques and fitness levels and is consequently aiming for a medal this season.

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