Ellen Tomek never envisioned becoming an Olympian when she rowed for the first time as a University of Michigan freshman.
She was certain, however, that she would give this new sport everything she had.
That much was a given. Work ethic and competitive drive were never issues for Tomek, whether it was a sport she played for years or was trying for the first time.
“Even though I switched sports, I definitely carried that on and work my way to the top of the program or whatever I’m doing,” Tomek said. “I’m always working to get better. It kind of started in high school, maybe even before that. I feel like my parents would argue it was before that. I was always extremely competitive growing up.”
So, Tomek wasn’t easily discouraged while navigating the ups and downs of a three-week tryout process for Michigan’s rowing team. She learned about the tryouts from an email that “I’m pretty sure went out to every incoming freshman for both men and women.”
Tomek never rowed, but had an extensive athletic background.
She was a backup player on Powers Catholic’s 2000 and 2001 state Class B championship basketball teams and played softball for the Chargers. Growing up, she also tried volleyball, swimming, track and field, downhill skiing and water skiing.
“I just enjoyed any sport or anything where there could be a winner or loser,” said Tomek, who grew up in Flushing. “I loved competing, loved racing, anything like that.”
She didn’t play in either state championship game, both of which were close victories over a great Detroit Country Day team, but being on those teams was a special time in her life that prepared her for success in a different sport.
“It was a really big deal when I was in high school,” she said. “I felt like it was a great honor to play for Powers and be a Lady Charger back then. The team was really good.
“I played with women who went on to play for NCAA championships and for big D1 women’s programs. I played basketball with some of the best in the country, definitely in the state. That was cool, even if I was on the second string. I had to defend them during practice; that just made me better. You learn that dedication early.”
Tomek’s competitive fire translated to rowing, where she became the only Flint-area athlete to compete in three Olympic Games.
She placed fifth in double sculls at the 2008 Olympics, sixth in double sculls at the 2016 Olympics and 10th in quadruple sculls at the 2021 Olympics. An injury limited her effectiveness during the selection period for the 2012 Olympics.
Even as she began finding success at Michigan, Tomek didn’t expect to compete on an international stage after college.
In the summer leading into her senior year, her coach planted the idea of trying out for the under-23 national team in 2006.
“I never thought I would have that opportunity,” she said. “He kind of sparked the idea. We didn’t get to nationals and my team voted me Athlete of the Year my senior year. I just felt like I wanted to keep going.”
Tomek made the under-23 national team and placed fourth in pairs at the world championships.
“I kind of begged my way — through multiple emails to the head coach — onto the national team, at least into the training center,” said Tomek, who made 11 national teams during her career. “When I made the team that first summer, I think I caught myself off-guard; I’d definitely caught the coaches off-guard.
“That’s when I moved to Princeton to be part of the national team training center. I was thinking of the 2012 Olympics. I ended up making the 2008 Olympics. It was a surprise.”
Her first Olympic experience was in Beijing, China.
“You can’t prepare yourself for what it’s going to be like,” she said. “You don’t have a context from anything else. Even being in the Big House as an athlete, you look around and all these fans are watching you. It’s still like everyone’s from Michigan or the opposing team.
“You’re in this stadium and in this city and people are from all over the world competing. There’s nothing that can really mentally prepare you and have that context going into it.”
Tomek remained focused enough to have her best Olympic finish, just two places off the medal podium.
She had a better idea of what to expect for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Nothing, however, could prepare her for her third Olympic experience in 2021 in Tokyo.
The Olympics had been postponed one year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even when the Olympics were given the green light for 2021, no spectators were allowed at venues and athletes were under tight restrictions.
“That was really strange,” Tomek said. “It was very isolated and quiet. I did have expectations of what the Olympics would be, but it was quiet, remote, no one was around. You compete, and
I think I went home the next day; I was home on a flight. The other two, I got to stay around and do some traveling and watch other competitions.”
Tomek retired following the Tokyo Olympics at the age of 37. She took advantage of a program offered by Visa for Olympic athletes to land a job as a risk and fraud manager for the company. She is living in Saginaw and adjusting to a life that doesn’t include training all day to compete at a world-class level.
“It’s strange to try to work on that work-life balance,” she said. “Before, I had to eat, breathe, sleep rowing, because even what you’re doing outside of practices affects your performance.
“There’s a little more leeway there now. I’m taking up hobbies for the first time. During the pandemic, not being able to go anywhere, I was teaching myself how to play the ukulele. Once I stopped rowing, I bought a guitar and have been learning how to play it. I’m trying to read some more, now that I don’t just sit down and fall asleep like when I was training.”
