Olympian Darcy Marquardt

Posted 
on Jul 15, 2013
 
Three-time Olympian, Olympic Silver Medalist and World Champion, Darcy Marquardt has worked tirelessly in pursuit of her dreams over the course of her 14 year rowing career. She has learned that no matter what the obstacles, with perseverance and teamwork, you can achieve things you never thought possible. Darcy credits her parents and family values of integrity and commitment for creating the foundation from which her rowing career took off.
 
 
Darcy gave an riveting and inspiring presentation to the Rotary Club of Ladner on July 9th, outlining the parallels between successful business practices and elite sport, while breathing a fresh perspective into the idea of teamwork.
 
Darcy’s greatest achievement, is not only the Silver medal performance in London, England at the 2012 Games but developing the ability to share her journey and inspire the next generation of leaders in people of all ages. Darcy was recently elected as a member of the BC Chapter of Olympians Canada, where she will serve in a leadership role to promote the Olympic Spirit nationwide, motivate and encourage youth, celebrate and honour all those who have represented Canada at the Olympic Games.
 
Darcy Marquardt is the oldest of five siblings, 2 sisters and 2 brothers, she was raised us in Richmond, BC.  She is engaged to Olympic Swimmer, Richard Hortness, who also competed in London and Beijing, where they met after competing in the 2nd week of the Games. Darcy’s father John is the immediate past president of the Rotary Club of Richmond Sunrise.
 
She is a graduate of the University of Victoria, with a  BA in French and a Psychology minor. Her teen years were spent playing a lot of sports (figure skating, floor hockey, gymnastics – 1 yr only, softball, volleyball and rugby with the high school team). Darcy says she was only a participant and not very competitive.
 
She watched figure skating on TV during the Calgary Olympics in 1988. As a skater at the time her idol became Elizabeth Manley, who won a silver medal at these Games. She didn’t know what sport would take me to the Olympics since she was too tall to skate.
 
Darcy was introduced to rowing at the University of Victoria in her first her and loved it from the moment she first got in a boat.