Hydration, carbohydrate intake, and timing strategies were crucial to rebuilding this rower’s confidence during training following uncontrollable bouts of vomiting and passing out during a 2k erg competition. Unstructured nutrition in the days leading up to the competition exacerbated by a school trip led to dehydration, low glycogen stores, and severe consequences. As we worked to improve his nutrition knowledge and structure – especially with how he thought about “healthy” food, fueling training, and weight management – he began to respond better to training and feel better both during and after which instilled the confidence necessary in his body to push his 2k time back below 7:00 then 6:40 then to his previous PR of 6:34 then below 6:30 and eventually to 6:23. He overcame serious challenges to earn a collegiate scholarship, become nationally competitive, and earn strong considerations within Team USA development camps.
