Amanda Polk grew up in Bloomfield and started rowing at Oakland Catholic High School. From there, it was on to Notre Dame.
She made the 2012 team, but as an alternate. So she went to London, but only watched as her women’s eight teammates took the gold.
She told Channel 11’s Gordon Loesch that experience made her work harder.
“I really do believe that everything happens for a reason,” said Polk. “And you know, you learn from your failures. And I truly believe you can come back if you want something so much. Just putting in the work was what's really going to get you there.”
Polk dedicated herself over the next four years to ensure she’d make the team outright, and she did. The U.S. team is expected to win the gold again in Rio.
“It's my passion for sure,” said Polk. “I mean a lot of people tell me, you know, you're crazy for doing all that work, but whenever you find a passion, and you just - you just get engulfed in it, it's not work at all. It's just your love for something - for me - it's just so happens, I'm pretty good at it.”