A U.S. rower’s path to gold took him through Central New York

ITHACA, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — The journey for gold takes years, and for Mike Grady, a rower for Team USA, his path took him through Cornell.

“When you meet him, he can look you square in the eye, and he’s just as charismatic as he can possibly be. Great smile, great hello, he remembers your name and he make you feel really good. He’s a great person,” Todd Kennett, the head coach of Cornell’s heavy weight rowing squad, said.

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Grady’s personality and talent made him a leader among his Cornell teammates. Grady first appeared on the Olympic stage at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“All those guys were second-time Olympians, and I think it makes a huge difference having that maturity and that volume. The stories of how many kilometers they were doing a week is fierce. It’s unbelievable,” Coach Kennett said.

Coach Kennett was brought to tears when watching the race on Thursday, August 1. He was in awe that the young man he coached secured the first gold medal for USA men’s four rowing in 64 years.

Coach Kennett and Mike Grady were texting later that day. Coach Kennett said he felt it was so special to be able to say that he knows an Olympic Gold Medalist.

“So, texting Mike, I’m just like, ‘You’re one of the best in the world what do you say to that?’ We’ve just been having a pretty fun chat time about that, just how amazing it is and how life, this is one of these moments in life that it’s almost like you’ve reached a pinnacle, and so, enjoy it.”

Coach Kennett emphasized that this gold medal win is a big deal, and not just because it’s been so long since the men have won this competition.

“In the sport of rowing, it’s the pinnacle we try to achieve,” Coach Kennett explained. “And so few U.S. guys have ever achieved that.”

When asked if Coach Kennett always believed that this was possible for Mike Grady, for him to win a gold medal at thew Olympics, Kennet said, “Mike was one of the best athletes I ever coached. I don’t want to say he’s the best, but I can certainly say he was amongst the top guys. He was always special. He could always do some special things,”

Kennett paused, a smile spreading across his face, “So yeah, this has always been there then. That, yeah, he could be that guy.”

That guy in the spotlight with a shiny gold medal.

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