INTERVIEW WITH GLENN RYPP

Glenn Rypp Training Video

Recently we had the pleasure of taking five for a down to earth chat with one of our sponsored athletes and proud Modere Ambassador, Glenn Rypp about his latest trials and tribulations, including his heartbreak of just missing out on selection for the Rio Olympics Kayaking team. But for Glenn, it’s been almost bitter sweet…

Modere: So Glenn, it’s been a while since we last caught up. What’s been happening, champ?

Glenn: Yeah, I know! Firstly allow me to apologise for not touching base sooner. I guess I’ve just been so focused on competing, and well, I’ve been eating, sleeping, training and talking Olympics for a long time! It just consumes you as an athlete.

Modere: It’s totally fine. Like we know what it’s like! Clearly you’ve been busy catching your breath. So maybe you can give our readers an idea of what a year in the life of Glenn Rypp is like…

Glenn: Well so far the 2015/2016 event calendar has been my biggest year of training and racing to date. I’ll give you a quick rundown of what I’ve achieved. Ready?

Modere: Yep.

Glenn: Set?

Modere: Yep. Go Glenn!

Glenn: So it was a massive season in total and I ended up earning the following results in the Open Men’s comp.

  • 1st place and new course record for the Murray 200km kayak race
  • 1st for the South Australian Kayak Marathon Championships for K1 and K2
  • Overall winner for the South Australian Ocean Racing Series Championship 2015/2016
  • Represented South Australia in the national state vs state (each state gets 2 surf ski representatives) for Single Surf Ski, and I came 5th
  • 1st place in all South Australian state regattas for the K1 1000m races
  • 3rd in the K4 1000m National Event 1
  • 4 x Gold and 3 x Silver medals at the South Australian State Surf Life Saving Championships
  • 1st in the Single Ski for the South Australian Surf Life Saving State Championships (1st for 2 years in a row for Open)
  • 1st in the K1 1000m South Australian Sprint Kayak State Championships (1st for 5 years in a row for Open)
  • 3rd in the Australian National Marathon Championships
  • Awarded the Ski Award 2015/2016 for West Beach.

And to top it all off – in my break I competed in a Spartan obstacle course competition where you aim to get the fastest possible time over the weekend in a short course of obstacles. I managed to take out 1st place against some the best in that kind of racing. So yeah it’s been pretty hectic!

Modere: And you have time to study and work in amongst those events!? What are you, one of the X-Men?

Glenn: Haha! Not really. When you’re that focused, time just flies by and all of a sudden you’re competing at a new event and then the Olympic trials come and go, and while the rest of the Australian Team are getting excited to compete in Rio, I’m simply coming to terms with missing out on a seat on that plane! But, that’s life I guess. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. I have definitely had some emotional moments because I really did give it my best shot. I probably spent approximately 15-20 hours a week training for 50 weeks a year for the last 4 years, so yeah, when you reflect on all of the hard work and pushing through pain barriers etc. etc. it can take its toll. I really did put everything on the line and gave it my best, so to miss out is hard to come to terms with. Having just said that, I have however taken away some positive lessons to make sure I continue to grow and develop as an athlete. In fact, with this new mindset − I’m actually looking forward to the next four years of training and racing because towards the end of that four year cycle I will be at my peak racing age which will mean I’ll have a better shot at making the following Olympics team. So my dream isn’t over yet!

Modere: That’s a really great attitude considering how disappointed you must feel. We’ll definitely be behind you for the next 4 years. After all, we’re your biggest fans!

Glenn: Ohh shucks! Thanks. You guys have always been great supporters of mine and I cannot thank you enough for the support. Without that support I just don’t know how I would be able to juggle my busy life and compete at this level! After having spoken to other athletes, I really feel like I have a special relationship with Modere, because you genuinely care about my wellbeing and not just my performances. That really means a lot!

Modere: crying emoji Could you please pass the tissues, Glenn?

Glenn: Sure, here you go! Seriously, I absolutely love being part of a company that almost feels like another family to me! Having you and everyone at Modere backing me every step of the way is always an amazing motivator for me. I can’t thank you enough!

Modere: Stop it! It’s our absolute pleasure, young man. Keep up the great work and best of luck with the remainder of your studies. Something tells us this isn’t the last we’ve heard of Glenn Rypp…

Glenn: You know it!

Glenn Rypp Racing