By Colleen Kane
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Kings High School and Ohio State graduate Bryan Volpenhein is at it again - back in the water and vying for a spot on the U.S. Men's Rowing Team in this summer's Olympics.

Just 10 years after beginning his rowing career because of a flier, the 27-year-old, who now lives in Princeton, N.J., continues to try to win his first Olympic medal. His eight-man team placed a disappointing fifth in the Sydney Olympics. On July 7, he'll find out if he gets a second chance when the U.S. teams are chosen.

Q: How good is your chance of making the team?

A: As long as I don't do anything really stupid or get hurt or go really slow, I should make it.

Q: What's your training schedule been like?

A: This winter, we went to San Diego for three months, and that was a lot of training - 50 kilometers a day. We'd train three times a day, five days a week, and the other two days we have one or two practices.

Q: What's the team's goal for the Athens Olympics?

A: To win.

Q: What were the 2000 Olympics like for you?

A: It was pretty exciting. It was my first time, so it was crazy. But at the same time, we were expected to do a lot better than fifth. So it was a little disappointing and depressing afterward, but it was still a good experience.

Q: How did you get started rowing?

A: I was on a trip visiting Ohio State, and I saw a flier advertising men's rowing. So freshman year, one of my roommates and I went down to the recruiting meeting. ... From there, I just liked the atmosphere and the guys rowing. And the coaches were great.

Q: What's your biggest accomplishment so far?

A: Finishing school in 2002, because I started college in '94.

Q: Tell me about your job program with Home Depot.

A: It's a program where I work 20 hours a week on average but get paid for 40, like full time. It's a good thing because you get a steady paycheck even if you have to take a training trip or go to a race or are just tired and need to take a day off. It makes it easy to train and not have to worry about money. It's a huge help. I wouldn't have been able to row this year without it.

Q: What do you do there?

A: I work in the garden department. I did landscaping in the summers growing up, so I figured that was the best place for me to be.

Q: Do you miss anything about Cincinnati?

A: I miss my mom and my brothers and my dad. ... I miss the Reds because I don't like any baseball or football teams here. And I miss the people in Ohio, just the attitude of the people. It's ... a lot more fast-paced here.