Every athlete who stepped foot into the University of Toronto Hart House and UTRowing Club boathouse understood what those who came before him or her had accomplished. The photographic evidence and hardware are everywhere. All this tradition and history could become a heavy burden, but under exemplary coaching it simply represents what is possible. It was never, "Live up to the tradition." It was always (unspoken), "You can do this." Coaches like Olympian John Houlding and gadfly Paul Peene turned University of Toronto Rowing's previous success into a liberating aspect of their coaching. They freed up guys to focus on simply doing the work rather than worrying about the outcome. The responsibility yet again rested on the athlete, but so did the opportunity. Houlding and Peene both fostered an environment of focusing on the process, not the outcome. It was a process every single one of their athletes, regardless of innate talent, could engage in equally.
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