Two-Time Olympic gold medalist Meghan Musnicki will return to her roots at Ithaca College from Sept. 27–Oct. 1 as “IC’s Olympic Champion in Residence.”
Musnicki, who was a member of the United States national team from 2010-2015, is one of the most decorated rowers in the sport today, having earned 18 medals in international competition, including 12 gold medals. Most recently, she helped the women’s eight row to its second consecutive Olympic gold medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and has guided the U.S. to five gold medals at the World Rowing Championships.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Meghan back to Ithaca to share her knowledge and passion with our campus community,” said Susan Bassett ’79, Ithaca College’s director of intercollegiate athletics and recreational sports. “Meghan’s experiences competing at the highest levels will help to reinforce topics that we promote in our performance program; such as the importance of strength and conditioning, nutrition, rest and recovery and other aspects of attaining peak performance.”
Upon her arrival to campus Tuesday afternoon, Musnicki, a 2005 graduate of Ithaca College, will lead a functional training session for all interested student-athletes and coaches at 12 p.m. in the Athletic and Events Center's Glazer Arena. She will then make the keynote speech of the week — “The Sky is the Limit; an IC Alumna’s journey to Olympic Gold” — at 7:30 p.m. in the Hockett Family Recital Hall inside the James J. Whalen Center for Music. The campus community is invited to attend and learn more about Musnicki’s road from Ithaca to becoming an Olympic champion. Tuesday’s speaking engagement is free and open to the public.
“Meghan has always been so generous with her time in support of Ithaca,” continued Bassett. “This unique opportunity for our student-athletes, coaches and the greater campus community to have access to such an elite athlete will be an incredible and inspiring experience.”
Musnicki’s week will continue Wednesday with another training session for student-athletes at the Ward Romer Boathouse followed by a dinner with program insiders on Wednesday evening. On Thursday morning, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Vic Brown, his graduate assistant coaches and other members of the coaching staff will join Meghan for a weight training session. At noon captains from each of the College’s 27 sports teams will have the opportunity to speak with Musnicki over lunch in a round table forum. Musnicki will then speak to Professor Stephen Mosher’s class on the Olympic Games before attending Laila Ali’s talk later that evening. On Friday morning, Dr. Greg Shelley, director of the college’s Leadership Academy, will facilitate a session with coaching staff on topics including leadership, developing mental toughness, motivation and teaching cohesion.
A 2013 inductee into the Ithaca College Athletics Hall of Fame, Musnicki gave Ithaca College’s 2015 commencement address, earned First-Team All-America honors as a senior and helped guide the Bombers to back-to-back national championships from 2004-2005.
“Meghan’s success in rowing is due in part to her commitment to her dream, endless hard work and maintaining a belief in herself throughout the process,” noted Head Coach Becky Robinson, who has piloted the women’s crew and sculling programs for over 21 years. “Her journey from novice rower to Olympic Champion is a reminder that we are all capable of greatness.”
For more information, please contact the Department of Athletics at (607) 274-3209.