Becoming a world champion was the realisation of one of her dreams, but there are many sacrifices for Tokyo 2020 hopeful Sanita Puspure.
Last year’s gold medal in Bulgaria in the single sculls was just rewards for years of endeavour and hard work, but now the 36-year-old claims it is mainly about being more clever about her work.
The decision to race less frequently, putting more emphasis on heavy four and five-week training blocks paid dividends and her victory in Italy last year shows she is in good nick.
"It would be nice to race a little bit more, but we’re looking at the bigger picture," she told RTÉ Sport at the announcement of Kinetica Sports as a Rowing Ireland sponsor.
The European Championships this month in Lucerne, the last World Cup [Rotterdam] in July and the World Championships [Linz, Austria] the following month have focused the mind and indeed planning, with the August event circled in the calendar from a long way out.
It is the only Olympic qualifier this year, with the top nine assured of a place in Tokyo.
Born in Latvia but firmly part of the Ballincollig community, Puspure doesn’t believe becoming a world champion has had a transformative impact. The rowing environment remains as competitive as ever as the rowers drive each other on, but it has had a positive impact off the water in terms of sponsorship.
There was nobody who wanted to support me before you become a world champion. It’s kind of sad before you become a world champion
She is speaking on the day she has been confirmed as an official brand ambassador for Kinetica.
"There are a few more opportunities for me now. It’s sweet, but at the same time I look back on myself after being fourth in the world and I was the same athlete.
"I had the same story behind me, but there was nobody who wanted to support me before you become a world champion. It’s kind of sad before you become a world champion."
She missed out on podium funding last year by a third of a second, meaning her €40,000 funding was halved, but is back to that figure again. She has become an ambassador for Setanta College too, allowing her to do a Strength and Conditioning course by way of long-distance learning, a two-fold benefit that helps her day-to-day, but also with an eye to the future.
One aspect that can prove difficult is the diet required to power her through her demanding daily routine. Two to three dinners a day is the norm during the heavy training sessions as she looks to take on board 5,500 calories daily.
"After a lighter week, when you don’t need as many calories, you really enjoy the food, but when you really need them, it becomes a chore. The more tired you get, the less appetite you have. It’s like, ‘oh God, I can’t eat any more’.
You go home in the evening and you know you need 3000 calories. It’s non-stop
"We train so much, we don’t even have time to space it out properly. It’s usually during the day between the sessions that we eat. You eat porridge then, but it’s not enough. You go home in the evening and you know you need 3000 calories. It’s non-stop."
Despite having a mother as one of the most dedicated athletes in the country, Patrick, 12 and Daniela, 11 have not bitten the sporting bug in any way shape or form just yet.
Part of that is a lack of interest, part of it Puspure admits is down to a hectic schedule.
"They probably suffer because I’m a full-time athlete. They aren’t being driven to as many activities maybe as they want to. Or should be. Maybe that’s why they have become a little bit lazy at this stage.
"We didn’t push them as we have no time to be driving them around.
"They do bits and pieces, but nothing serious. It’s important to keep them active, but they don’t understand that sometimes."
For now though it’s all about 2020 and she is hoping her careful planning will pay dividend at the World Championships before she can let her mind wander to Tokyo.
"Let’s just get the Olympic qualification first because I got it wrong twice before. In London I did it at the last chance, so was delighted to qualify but in Rio, I really screwed it up at the Worlds so this time it just has to be right."
