Bryan Volpenhein quotes:

Surfing - I have to go surfing.

Right now my favorite book is 'Omnivores Dilemma.'

Right now my favorite book is 'Omnivores Dilemma.

In rowing, you're always striving for that perfect stroke, that repetition, each one being as good as the last. Same thing with cooking. You can't say, 'Oh, I don't feel well, so I'm going to put out a crappy plate.'

Without something I'm really excited about... I'd be really lost.

I'm not disappointed with bronze. It's always good to come away with a medal.

I borrowed a lot of money from my parents in the years leading up to the 2000 Olympics, and I worked odd jobs.

There's way more pressure cooking for cooks than rowing at the Olympics.

I think I have experience in rowing, and that has given me some ability to go about racing. I'm lucky genetically. I have a good VO2 max - I can hold a lot of air in my lungs - and that definitely helps.