Pittsford, N.Y. – Henrik Rummel greeted dozens of young rowers Thursday as he made his returned to a boathouse in Pittsford where he got his start.
The Olympic rower and his team placed third in London and brought his bronze medal along to the boathouse.
“It’s really great seeing the place again and all the rowers,” Rummel said.
Many of the teenagers were inspired by his achievement.
“I really want to try and be an Olympian,” said Bennet Allison, a young rower.
Rummel cautioned the group, though, telling them the road to the Olympics requires sacrifice.
“I’ve had to give up a lot of things, but I don’t miss them now that I have something to show for it,” he said.
His former coach, Barb Kindig, said she saw great things in Rummel early on.
“You could tell how much he loved rowing even then,” Kindig said.
Rummel said he will work to make the Olympic boat for 2016 in Rio.
