A Trip to Remember

Sitting at the finish line of a small 2,000-meter lake-turned-racecourse in Lucerne, Switzerland, my husband and I waited to watch our son Christian – hopefully – qualify for the Olympics for Team USA. We were at the 2024 Final Olympic Qualification Regatta (FOQR), also known as the “Regatta of Death.” That’s because every four years rowers from around the world congregate at this regatta to compete for the last few remaining spots at the Olympic Games.

The Rotsee was a beautiful racecourse. The water, instead of appearing blue like the sky, reflected a clean green from the beautiful rolling hills that nestled the narrow lake. Throughout a string of three days, the best rowers from countries yet to qualify their boats stormed down the course passing crowds and audiences on one side of the lake, and herds of grazing cows on the other. All the while, the grand, snowy Swiss Alps towered in the background. The stories they could tell.

The Men’s 8+ boat class was the final race of the regatta. As Christian and his boatmates warmed up for their big moment, the athlete area had already begun to disperse. Deflated athletes could be seen silently loading their boats onto trailers to begin their journey home. The victorious few stood out like stars in a dark, gloomy sky. After cheering on the US Men’s 8+ as they launched onto the water, we walked to the finish line.

Anticipation weighed heavy as we watched Christian’s boat come down the course; four boats raced for only two Olympic spots. USA crossed the finish line first with a time of 05:35.97, a comfortable 4.5 seconds ahead of Italy in 2nd place. Based on the reactions in the grandstands however, the Italian supporters would have had you believe they had won the Olympics altogether! To their credit, the Italian boat put out a formidable sprint to upset their seeding and edge out Canada by a mere hundredth of a second!

Ever since Christian was a kid, when it came to things he cared about there was never a distance too far. As parents we witnessed first-hand Christian’s diligent determination in chasing his ambitions. When the loudspeakers announced that his crew had punched their ticket to the Paris Olympics, tears of joy streamed down our faces. Peter and I could not have been prouder to see Christian’s tenacity pay off.

The following weekend at the same venue, our emotions soared once again. Christian’s boat clinched a Silver medal at World Cup 2, a paltry 0.2 seconds behind Great Britain, the back-to-back world champion and Olympic favorite. Team USA’s finish also put them safely ahead of Netherlands and Australia, who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively at last year’s world championships. In the span of less than a week, Christian and his boat qualified for the Olympics and asserted themselves as top medal contenders for the Games.

Amidst all the excitement, Peter and I found moments of tranquility and wonder exploring the breathtaking sights of Switzerland. From the thundering Rhine Falls to the charming medieval streets of Stein am Rhein, each experience was a reminder of the beauty that surrounds us, even in the midst of life’s most intense competitions and a world engulfed in turmoil.

While intending to unwind with a leisurely cruise on Lake Lucerne, our curiosity led us to an impromptu escapade to Mount Pilatus. Venturing further into the heart of the Alps, we marveled at the snow-capped peaks of Mount Titlis and the picturesque vistas of Grindelwald. After Jungfraujoch, we experienced the surreal sensation of witnessing winter, spring, and summer all in one day, a testament to the enchanting magic of nature.

As if this travel experience could not have gotten any more memorable, a train ride across the southern border to see old friends from Treviso, Italy proved extraordinarily special. Ten years had passed since we last saw them in Jordan, but it felt as though nothing had changed. We shared memories and laughed while enjoying delightful Italian cuisine and bubbly prosecco. On the train back to Lucerne, our hearts felt so warm.

Leaving Switzerland, it was hard to not think about the next, and final step ahead. With Paris just around the corner, Peter and I eagerly look forward to cheering on Team USA and supporting Christian in his childhood quest for Olympic glory.

*Katia Tabash, 1818 Society Board of Director

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KEYWORDS   Olympic, regatta, Switzerland