Award flows to Maddie for skill, motivation and encouragement

The 25-year-old ex-Selkirk High School pupil and Edinburgh University graduate has been named Scottish Rowing’s 2018-19 Senior Rower of the Year.

Maddie, who trains full-time with the national team, secured her first-ever podium finish at last year’s world championships – and collected the UK’s first medal of the tournament in the process.

Competing in Linz Ottensheim, Austria, Maddie finished third in the lightweight women’s sculls, less than six seconds behind the gold medallist. It was also her first time racing in single sculls at world level.

Earlier in 2019, she had a boat named after her by Edinburgh University Boat Club.

However, the accolade was also for Maddie’s role in inspiring and motivating young Scottish rowing enthusiasts who are also moving through the ranks.

“I was so happy,” she said. “I didn’t have any clue it was coming either – there was a phone call out of the blue, which was really nice.

“All the women who were up for it, the ones I was up against, are really good, so I was happy to be recognised among them.”

Berkshire-based Maddie had aspirations of making Britain’s Tokyo Olympics squad before the COVID-19 virus threat forced the postponement of the Games until 2021.

At the moment, she and her colleagues are tackling a slightly different training and fitness regime – away from the water – and trying their best to adapt to a completely rearranged diary.

While everyone understood the decision to shelve the games and the need for global health and wellbeing to come first, shifting such a colossal event has had a big effect on athletes in a wide assortment of sports.

Maddie admitted it was “a difficult and tense time” being in the middle of tests for the Olympics, then being sent home “and it was all suddenly very different”.

She and her team mates have been working individually on optional sessions with rowing machines, cycling, running and weight training, to keep up the muscle stimulus.

Maddie also said it was a little more difficult sometimes to stay motivated, although having so much extra time now before the Olympics should be of benefit.

“I love training – that makes me happy – and I am so used to training with all my friends – that is what motivates me,” she said. “That gets through the haul of long sessions.”

Rowing, like many sports, was now faced with rescheduling or calling off events, revising athletes’ rest spells and a lot more, before attention turned in earnest to Tokyo for 2021 and the ‘new’ principal goal for so many.

Britain was unlikely to attend the European Championships pencilled in for October, said Maddie, although there would be World Cup events before the Olympics.

“For me, the delay is a good thing,” she added. “I don’t think I have really reached my best.

“This is my first year full-time with the national team, so I am still gaining, gaining, gaining.

“It’s a big readjust and it takes a lot to time to get used to – so I need to be grateful for more time.”