‘The Other 3 Years:’ Behind the Scenes with an Olympic Rower

by Dylan McGlynn Saratoga TODAY

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Kristi Wagner achieved her dream in 2021, qualifying for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo as a member of the United States rowing team. Now, she’s back at it, and she’s inviting everyone along for the ride.

Wagner is hosting a new podcast titled ‘The Other 3 Years,’ hosted by Bright Sighted Podcasting. The show, which is set to release its first episode on April 21, will document Wagner’s training process and time spent between Olympic Games.

The podcast was born after Wagner met with Christine O’Donnell, the founder of Bright Sighted Podcasting. O’Donnell is a Saratoga Springs native who rowed at the Saratoga Rowing Association before joining the team at the University of Minnesota, and said she was put in touch with Wagner by SRA head coach and executive director Eric Catalano.

Wagner said the podcast will provide insight into what an Olympic athlete does during the time between Games, and the work that goes into preparing for the Olympics.

“Every year kind of looks similar, in that we do all of our training and competing and selections and camps and everything, but we just have a world championship, world cups, and domestic races and stuff instead of the Olympics,” Wagner said. “I think that’s something that people don’t really know.”

A native of Weston, Massachusetts, Wagner said she began rowing in high school before eventually joining the team at Yale University. After deciding to begin her Olympic journey, she moved to Saratoga Springs in 2016 to train with ARION

(Advanced Rowing Initiative of the Northeast), a rowing team consisting of Olympic hopefuls.

“The whole idea was, there’s this elite team which will bring athletes in and give them subsidized housing and also give them a job,” said Wagner. “I coach the middle school and high school rowers at Saratoga Rowing. We had coaching, a training plan, equipment, transportation to races, and that kind of thing.”

Wagner said her experience in Tokyo at the 2020 Olympic Games (which were delayed to 2021 due to COVID-19) “was awesome,” despite the precautions taken.

“It was bigger than life, almost,” said Wagner. “I really wish that my family had gotten to go, because they have made a lot of sacrifices and done a lot to support me.”

Wagner said that due to COVID-19 restrictions, the rowing team traveled home almost immediately following their final race.

“Literally 24 hours after our last race, I was walking down Broadway,” Wagner said. “That was a really weird aspect of it, to watch the closing ceremonies on TV and be like, ‘Was it a fever dream? Was I actually there?’ But it was really awesome.”

Wagner placed fifth in the double sculls at the 2020 Games. Now, she’s aiming to make it to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics, saying she feels she can keep improving and that she is still enjoying the sport.

“I just think it’s a very cool and special thing, to try to get the most out of yourself, in any regard. I feel like I’m not at my best yet,” said Wagner. “I feel like I can still improve, and I’m still having fun in the process. It’s also a bit addictive. Finding that level of success is like, ‘OK, well that felt so good. I want to try to feel it again, but I want it to be even better.’”

O’Donnell said the experience of working with Wagner on the podcast has “been really awesome,” so far.

“Kristi is magnetic. She’s really easy to be around,” said O’Donnell. “I enjoy spending time with her and producing these episodes. I actually feel like producing her show has helped me become a better human. It’s been really cool.”

Wagner said she is a huge fan of podcasts, and also said working with O’Donnell has been “incredible.”

“She’s really awesome. She’s made the whole process very smooth and seamless for me,” said Wagner. “But it’s also been really nice for me to kind of reflect on things. I feel like normally, this is true with anything, you kind of have some sort of goal or something you’re working towards, and you just kind of work and do it. It happens, and then you kind of reflect. This has been more, in the process, I’ve had to reflect. Which has been fun, and exciting.”

Wagner also said that while the Olympic aspect of her story is unique, many parts of her life will be relatable to a wide audience.

“I just think that my story, it’s unique in that there aren’t that many people that do this, but also a lot of things in my life are the same as anybody’s life,” said Wagner. “I still do a lot of the same things that other people do and have the same concerns and worries. I just wanted to share that, because I think sometimes people get afraid or think that they can’t have big goals because they’re so far away.”

O’Donnell echoed this, saying Wagner feels “like someone they already know when they listen to her.”

“She just is very relatable,” said O’Donnell. “But I think people are going to listen to her because she’s reminding them if they have a dream or a goal or this thing that they want to do in their life, they have to go allin to make it happen. That’s what she’s done during the three years between the last Olympics and this Olympics. Anybody who has a dream who wants to make it a reality should listen to this show.”

Ultimately, Wagner said she hopes the podcast inspires people “to chase their own dreams.”

“I think I’ve spent a lot of time in my life feeling that people who accomplished really big things had tons of confidence and woke up like that. Just everything was easy for them, and they had this goal, and they just did it,” said Wagner. “That hasn’t been my experience. You fail a lot on your way to success. But there’s no reason that other people are allowed to have bigger dreams than anybody else.”

‘The Other 3 Years’ will release its first episode April 21 on all major streaming and podcasting platforms.

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Ralph Arthur Hatfield

QUEENSBURY — Ralph Arthur Hatfield passed away on April 7 at Fort Hudson Nursing Home. The services will be held at the convenience of the family. For online condolences, visit compassionatefuneralcare.com

Week of April 14 – April 20, 2023

Henry Redling

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Henry Redling died March 31. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 23 at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 52 Totowa Road, Totowa, NJ 07512. For online condolences, visit compassionatefuneralcare.com

James M. Morrell, Sr.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — James M. Morrell, Sr., 73, passed away April 8, 2023 at Saratoga Hospital. Calling hours are 4-7 p.m., Monday, 4/17/2023 at Burke Funeral Home. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Tuesday, 4/18/2023 at St. Mary’s Church, Ballston Spa. Burial is private www.burkefuneralhome.com

Burke & Bussing Funeral Homes

John A. “Jack” Styczynski Jr.

HARRISON, NY — John A. “Jack” Styczynski Jr. of Harrison, NY and New Orleans, Louisiana, died suddenly on April 6 at the age of 57. A funeral service and calling hours were held on April 13 at Compassionate Funeral Care, 402 Maple Ave., Saratoga Springs. For online condolences, visit www. compassionatefuneralcare.com

Ryan Gritt

LAKE LUZERNE — Ryan Gritt passed away on April 7. Calling hours will be held from 12 to 2 p.m. on April 20 at Compassionate Funeral Care, 402 Maple Ave., Saratoga Springs. For online condolences and the full obituary, visit www. compassionatefuneralcare.com

Joseph Patterson

WILTON – Joseph Patterson died April 9. Calling hours: 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, April 14 at Compassionate Funeral Care, Saratoga Springs. A service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 15 at Compassionate Funeral Care followed by a graveside service at Southside Cemetery, South Glens Falls. For online condolences, visit www. compassionatefuneralcare.com

Saratoga Springs Police Dept

Nicholas Crupi, 31, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 3 with petit larceny.

David Williams, 34, of Victory Mills, was charged April 3 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and obstructing traffic at intersection.

Justin Traver, 34, of Ballston Spa, was charged March 30 with grand larceny.

Tasha Tatsey, 39, of Lake Luzerne, was charged March 29 with criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Randy Jones, 55, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 28 with criminal trespass, and resisting arrest.

Jeramy Zepf, 44, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 28 with assault.

Rachel Toussaint, 21, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 28 with DWI, failed to stop at stop sign, improper left turn, and insufficient tail lamps.

Aurelio Bidinost, 56, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 27 with criminal contempt, and aggravated family offense.

Terri Flewelling, 37, of Glens Falls, was charged March 27 with DWI, and drinking alcohol or smoking cannabis in a motor vehicle on HWY.

George Chillis, 32, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 27 with criminal mischief, and unlawful imprisonment.

Bretton Hill, 35, of Petersburg, was charged March 26 with criminal possession of a weapon.

Brian Ausfeldt, 35, of Clifton Park, was charged March 26 with DWI, and failed to use designated lane.

Tyrell Jackson, 43, of Schenectady, was charged March 26 with menacing, and criminal possession of a weapon.

Jordan Sartin, 24, of Greenfield, was charged March 24 with criminal mischief, and criminal contempt.

Marlene Alfonso, 62, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 24 with DWI.

Nicholas Gallo, 28, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 24 with DWI, aggravated DWI, speeding, and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Saratoga County Court

Daniel Canty, 52, of Middle Grove, pleaded March 27 to felony DWI, charged January 2023 in Saratoga Springs. Sentencing May 31.

Todd J. Whitcher, 43, of Mechanicville, was sentenced April 4 to 5 years of probation, after pleading to felony DWI charged August 2022 in Saratoga Springs.

SARATOGA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPT

Shawn M. Soderberg, 47, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 3 with criminal possession of a weapon

– felony, and menacing, a misdemeanor. Soderberg is accused of threatening another person with a machete, following the Sheriff’s Office responding to a disturbance call at the Saratoga Lake Motel in the town of Saratoga. He was sent to Saratoga County Jail in lieu of bail or bond.

On March 25, 2023, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office charged Joseph Murauskas, 44, of Corinth with felony assault, in connection with an alleged physical domestic dispute in the Town of Corinth. Murauskas is accused of physically assaulting a female victim causing serious physical injury to the victim’s head and face. The victim was treated on scene by LuzerneHadley EMS, transported to Saratoga Hospital for further medical attention and was ultimately cared for at Albany Medical Center. Murauskas was arraigned in Corinth Town Court and sent to the Saratoga County Correctional Facility in lieu of $40,000 cash/$80,000 bond/$800,000 partially secured bond.

Beatriz A. Garcia, 43, of Mechanicville, was sentenced March 30 to 5 years of probation, after pleading to felony attempted assault.

Justice D. Ross, 25, of Schenectady, was sentenced March 30 to 2 to 4 years’ incarceration felony attempted assault, first charged in 2022 in Milton.

William D. Mansfield, 43, of Schaghticoke, pleaded March 31 to felony DWI, charged May 2022 in Stillwater. Sentencing June 1.

Michael A. McCleary, 35, of Hadley, was turned over to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office on March 27 on an outstanding warrant for failure to register a change of address as a sex offender –2nd offense, a felony.