Fifteen-year-old Lauren Deprez is only three years into her journey in rowing and has already struck gold.
The Niagara-on-the-Lake teenager took home two gold medals last week from one of the largest rowing competitions in the world.
The Head of the Schuylkill Regatta located in Philadelphia, Pa. brought out 8,000 athletes and 30,000 spectators to watch the 3,800-metre race.
“It’s a really cool course and area, I love Philadelphia— and there was some good competition,” Deprez told The Lake Report.
Her gold medals in the women’s high school singles and the women’s high school doubles come after she ventured into the rowing world when she was around 12 years old, Deprez said.
“My friend told me about a ‘learn to row’ program, so I joined and I really liked it,” she said.
Since starting in the sport, rowing has taken Deprez to many new places, she said.
“We went to Montreal in the summer, we have another one in Philadelphia in the spring,” Duprez said.
She also took home a third place in the under 17 category at a regatta in Boston recently, mom Jennifer Deprez said.
“Which is a pretty big deal for that weekend,” she said.
When prepping for important races like the regatta in Philadelphia, Deprez’s secret weapon is her pre-race meal.
“I normally have peanut butter toast and pasta and meatballs the night before,” she said.
Deprez, from St. Davids, has been rowing since she first started with the Niagara Falls Rowing Club and also rows with her school, Saint Paul.
High school rowing, which begins in the spring season, also operates out of the Niagara Falls Rowing Club.
When it comes to balancing work and sports, early mornings are frequent.
“We normally have weights before school, so that’s at 5 or 6 a.m., then we’ll have practice after,” Deprez said.
Jennifer Deprez said rowing is a big commitment, but a good team of parents who are willing to carpool makes a big difference.
Deprez hopes to continue rowing even after high school, she said.
