Mahe Drysdale inspires Riley Bruce at Maadi

A facebook message from Olympic great Mahe Drysdale inspired 16-year-old Mount Aspiring College rower and silver medalist  Riley Bruce.

When Riley was 14 he won gold in the 2013 Maadi U16 single sculls. Mahe Drysdale was so impressed he Facebook-messaged Riley to congratulate him. The gold medal was the first Mount Aspiring College had won.

Riley would go on to win a gold again in the same U16 single scull in 2014. This year it looked as if  he had won gold  for the third year straight. However, St Peter’s competitor Braeden Camp took the win by .30 of a second.

Riley advises those competitors at this year’s Maadi who did not medal to stay with the sport. “If you give yourself  to rowing, then it will give itself back to you. Stay involved and everyone will do everything they can to help push  you to the top.”

Riley Homan was the only other athlete from Mount Aspiring    at this year’s Maadi. When asked how Riley [Bruce] has  influenced her rowing she said “he’s always looking for us to  get better, and go faster and get the job done. He’s someone to  look to because he’s always there, pushing it hard [and] just a  great example to be around.”

On his coach Robert Bruce and his support this Maadi, Riley said “he’s the only reason I get up in the morning. Every morning he comes and knocks on my door 5.45am and gets me up. He’s always on the water making sure that I’m pushing myself.

“You are only not good enough if you stop trying. Keep going and achieve personal success. If you set smart goals and achieve them, then that’s personal success.”

The Rileys from Mount Aspiring College (click the link to the left to watch a short video clip on both Rileys from Mt Aspiring College).