Paralympic Silver Medalist and Senior Rower Gemma Wollenschlaeger talks training in Boston, the transition back to school at Temple, and goals for the future.
Gemma Wollenschlaeger was a junior on Temple’s Women’s Rowing team when she was selected for the 2024 Paralympic Coxed Four to represent Team USA this past summer in Paris. So last January, she packed her bags and moved to Boston to begin her training.
“The move was scary, but the rowing community in Boston was extremely welcoming and made me feel at home fast,” Wollenshlaeger said. “It was incredible to be training on such a special river in the rowing community, the Charles River. It holds a lot of history and the boathouses are just beautiful!”
But even with the beautiful scenery and supportive community, Wollenschlaeger mentioned that the nerves and mental stress of being a Paralympian were daunting.
“It was a challenge,” said Wollenshlaeger. “It was stressful, nerve-racking, and there was a lot of pressure. The nerves didn’t just start when we got to Paris, it really kicked in at selection camp for the Paralympic Games.”
The selection camp was held in January 2024. Once the final team selection came out, Gemma moved to Boston to train with her teammates and the pressure was on. The world stage of rowing is not unfamiliar to Wollenschaeger, having competed at the World Rowing Championships last summer and winning silver in the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls event. But the Paralympics were another level.
“During the games, I used a mantra to help me calm down,” Wollenshlaeger said. “I am doing this. I am fast. I am capable. I am strong. I am brave. I am a Paralympian. I am her. I am Gemma.”
And now she has had to transition again, coming back to Philadelphia to finish out her senior year here at Temple.
“People warn you it’s going to be hard so you brace yourself but you never really know what it’ll be like,” said Wollenshlaeger. “Coming off a Paralympic silver medal we felt on top of the world, it was awesome but you have to come off that high! You get to relieve it a bit as everyone celebrates you but life moves on and it’s up to you to remind yourself what you were capable of and what you did.”
Since returning from the Games, Wollenschlaeger has dealt with an injury that has made it difficult for her to return to her normal schedule of rowing. This injury has caused not only physical stress, but mental stress as well.
“Something I didn’t really plan for was a prolonged injury,” Wollenshlaeger said. “Rowing is my safe place. It’s what makes me happy. It’s something special to me. And with an injury, it means I can’t do that and I need to find a new safe place for the time being. So it’s been really difficult to try and balance coming back to reality and also taking care of my body correctly without overdoing myself and potentially injuring myself more.”
Looking toward the future, Wollenschlaeger has her eyes on the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics. But for now, she is taking it one day at a time, enjoying herself and her time as a college student in Philadelphia.
“Long-term goals . . . Have fun and enjoy my time rowing,” said Wollenshlaeger.
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