Lucy Strack is home (briefly) for the holidays but will have little time to rest over the next three years. Alistair McMurran catches up with the Otago rower.
Strack and her boyfriend, fellow international Jade Uru, got their dog this year and it is Strack's job to take him for a walk each day after training.
''It is such a nice part of my day. It is a nice way to finish the day and get the lactate out of my legs and refresh my mind,'' she said.
''We didn't plan on getting a dog until after the world championships but we found a breeder in Cambridge and were so taken with Ziggy that we bought him there and then.''
Strack, now based in Cambridge with the elite national squad, was home in Dunedin for Christmas with her family.
Two years ago, she had a lower back injury that ruined her chances of going to the London Olympics.
''It was an inflammation in my SI [sacroiliac] joint, where the pelvis and the vertebrae join,'' she said.
''It limited the amount of leg-hip movement I could do. I spent that summer in the pool because I couldn't cycle, run or row.
''I've learnt a lot about that injury and a lot about my body and what it can take.''
The key for Strack now is to follow a strict off-water routine that includes warm-up and stretching and core stability exercises.
She has always believed in her ability on the water and was never tempted to give up the sport.
''I knew that I had made the right decision when I moved to Cambridge and pursued rowing as my dream.
''I always had confidence in myself that I would come back from that injury. It was a long time out of the water but once I got back in the boat, I was confident in my ability. Rio has always been my goal. I never expected to be at London.''
Strack first rowed with Julie Edwards in the lightweight double sculls at the world championships at Karapiro in 2010.
She was in the double sculls with Louise Ayling when they finished sixth at the world championships in 2011 and qualified the boat for London. The pair finished fifth at the world championships in Korea this year.
''We have a special relationship. We are friends on and off the water.
''Because of our closeness, we are able to be very honest with each other on how things are going in the boat. It is great having a close friend with you in the hard times and the good times.''
Strack, who joined Rowing New Zealand's high performance squad in Cambridge in 2010, believes that the key for any partnership is to get in top physical condition for any of the major events.
''Since I've been in Cambridge I've become a better athlete myself,'' she said.
''That is what we are always striving for.''
Last year, Strack was coached by Dick Tonks, but because of his heavy workload - he has 18 elite rowers - the lightweight female rowers will be coached by Gary Hay this year.
Strack and Edwards won the lightweight double sculls at the Sydney world cup, were third in the Netherlands and appeared on track for a medal at the world championships before slipping to fifth.
''We were a bit gutted not getting a medal at the world championships,'' Strack said.
''Things need to change a bit to reach our target for the 2016 Olympics. To be tracking for a medal at Rio, we need to be on the dais at world championships in the next two years.''
Strack broke the world record for the 5000m ergometer test at Lake Karapiro recently.
She now holds the world record for a female lightweight rower with her time of 18min 35.5sec. It was a personal best by 20sec.
''The erg tests are always a tough challenge. But it is a good benchmark for where we are during this phase of training with the summer squad. It tells me I'm on the right track to have a good summer season.''
Lucy Strack: The facts
Age: 24.
Education: St Hilda's Collegiate.
Club: North End.
Coach: Gary Hay.
Record. -
International: 2010, world championship double sculls (sixth), world under-23 double sculls (second); 2011, world championship double sculls (sixth); 2012, world championship single sculls (sixth); 2013, world cup Sydney (first), world cup Netherlands (third), world championships Korea (fifth).
Domestic: NZ lightweight singles sculls champion (2010, 2011, 2013); NZ premier singles sculls, 2nd (2011); NZ premier eight champion (2013).
