BRYAN VOLPENHEIN

Surfing - I have to go surfing.

I'm very competitive, but I know when not to be competitive. I know how to have fun, but I know when it's time to get serious. That makes things a lot easier.

Right now my favorite book is 'Omnivores Dilemma.'

I borrowed a lot of money from my parents in the years leading up to the 2000 Olympics, and I worked odd jobs.

Without something I'm really excited about... I'd be really lost.

I'm not disappointed with bronze. It's always good to come away with a medal.

I think I have experience in rowing, and that has given me some ability to go about racing. I'm lucky genetically. I have a good VO2 max - I can hold a lot of air in my lungs - and that definitely helps.

In rowing, you're always striving for that perfect stroke, that repetition, each one being as good as the last. Same thing with cooking. You can't say, 'Oh, I don't feel well, so I'm going to put out a crappy plate.'

There's way more pressure cooking for cooks than rowing at the Olympics.

I'm not disappointed with bronze. It's always good to come away with a medal.

I borrowed a lot of money from my parents in the years leading up to the 2000 Olympics, and I worked odd jobs.

I'm very competitive, but I know when not to be competitive. I know how to have fun, but I know when it's time to get serious. That makes things a lot easier.

Right now my favorite book is 'Omnivores Dilemma.'

Without something I'm really excited about... I'd be really lost.

There's way more pressure cooking for cooks than rowing at the Olympics.

I think I have experience in rowing, and that has given me some ability to go about racing. I'm lucky genetically. I have a good VO2 max - I can hold a lot of air in my lungs - and that definitely helps.

In rowing, you're always striving for that perfect stroke, that repetition, each one being as good as the last. Same thing with cooking. You can't say, 'Oh, I don't feel well, so I'm going to put out a crappy plate.'

Surfing - I have to go surfing.