With the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio just around the corner, Global News is talking to some of B.C.’s most prominent athletes on their way to Olympic glory. Today, we are talking to 38-year-old West Vancouver native and three-time Olympic sailor Nikola Girke, who changed her specialty in sailing several times. Girke debuted in the 470 event in Athens in 2004 before switching to the RS:X in 2005, and qualifying for Beijing 2008 and London 2012. In Rio, she will compete in a third boat class, the new mixed Nacra 17, with her sailing partner Luke Ramsay.
Where are you from and where do you train?
I grew up in West Vancouver, where I do most of my physical training. The actual on-the-water training happens in competitions and training camps. I travel seven to eight months of the year. So I do come home sometimes, but it’s never for an extended period of time.
What has the last year of training been like for you?
We only qualified at the end of January. Until then, all of our efforts were focused on qualification, which is very stressful. Everything you do is to prepare for the qualification race. Once that’s over, there is a feeling of relief and then you realize — now I can start training for the Olympics.
Also, training for the qualification, you train for the specific venue, which, in our case, was in Miami. So we were training for our qualification venue more so than our Rio venue until the end of January. But, the training is more than full-time. We don’t have many days off.
There is the actual physical training: that happens on land — in the gym, on the bike or in the pool. Then there is the sailing part — and there is a lot of boat work that needs to happen. So you might only be on the water for four hours, but it’s a full eight-hour day because preparations take a while.
What are you looking forward to the most in Rio?
In our class, basically everyone in the the top 10 has a chance at a medal, so I am really looking forward to seeing how it all pans out.
What’s your goal in Rio?
The best-case scenario is obviously bringing home the gold. Sailing is such an interesting sport in that anything can happen on any given day, and there is so much that’s not in your control. But being in the medals is my goal, hands down.
Did you ever see yourself becoming an Olympian?
Not totally. It was never a big dream to go to the Olympics. You start sailing and get better; then, you go through B.C. championships and Canadian championships. It shows you a path forward, and your goals get bigger and bigger. And all of a sudden the Olympics don’t seem like such a daunting goal and don’t seem crazy out of reach. It just seemed like the next stage.
Who was most influential in helping you achieve your dreams?
I guess my dad was my biggest supporter. He passed away when I was 19. His mantra has always been — live your life now, because you just don’t know what’s going to happen. He would say, “Don’t postpone your dreams till later, because ‘later’ might not happen.”
READ MORE for Global News Rio 2016 Coverage
Do you have any good luck charms/ superstitions?
There are definitely a few. For example, there is always a practice race in competitions, and we never finish a practice race. Also, we get swag T-shirts at regattas, but we never wear those T-shirts until after the competition is over.
What do you do to relax between training?
It depends on where I’m in the world. I like the distraction of doing things. I like to check out the place where I’m staying — whether it is walking the streets, shopping or checking out the sights. It’s a change of scenery, so anything that gets you away is good.
Do you ever have a cheat day? If so what do you do/eat?
There are definitely cheat days that happen regularly, to the point that I would not call them cheat days anymore. It’s very hard to constantly deny yourself things. I believe in eating everything in moderation, so you never get mad at yourself for having that chocolate or dessert because you know it’s a treat, but you also know that it’s not the last one you’re ever going to have.
With windsurfing I had to really watch my weight, and it really gets to you mentally, so even if you have cheat days, you know you are going to suffer for it. And now, I don’t really think about it all that much, luckily. At the end of the day, being healthy, happy and well-rounded is much more important than being self-restricting.
Aside from training, do you have another job?
No, sailing is my sole focus. There is no room or time for anything else.
Do you play any other sports?
I do a bit of biking, surfing and cross-country skiing. A lot of it is a crossover between helping me stay fit and me enjoying it. A lot of it is non-team sports, because my schedule is completely different from other people’s, so I choose sports where I can just pick up and go.
Have you been to Brazil before?
I used to train in Brazil when I was in windsurfing and I have been to Rio several times. We are also going there twice more before the Olympics, so we will be sailing comfortably and aware of what we are up against.
Is anyone in your family or any of your friends hoping to attend the Games to support you?
My boyfriend is coming and potentially another friend too. It’s not an easy place to travel to, so I don’t expect people to come.
If you have time outside of the Games, where would you like to go or eat or drink in Rio?
I would love to see the Iguazu Falls, which are not in Rio, so it’s definitely a trip. But it is one of those things you need to see if you are down there already.
Are you concerned about the Zika virus or the political unrest in the country?
You definitely have to go to Rio equipped with awareness. There is a lot going on in that country, but you just try to be aware and protect yourself, and hope they will pull together for the Olympics.
How is your Portuguese?
Not good enough. I am trying to make due with my Spanish.
What’s next for you after Rio?
I don’t really know what’s going to happen. I will need a break from the competition first. But I don’t want to quit cold turkey. I love competing and I love the athleticism. It’s just after being in it for 16 years, I also need to come up for a breath of fresh air. I’ve been training full-time since 2001.
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