"I began rowing at the age of 14. When I was 17, I won my first Junior World Championships. I went on to win Gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. After winning gold at the 1997 World Championships I took a year out to have my baby. My husband is from Potsdam, Germany and now I train in Minsk and Potsdam. In 1999 I was back in training and managed to win Gold again. While I am resting between training I like to read and complete jigsaw puzzles."
Note:After writing this in early 2000, Ekaterina Karsten went on to win the Sydney Olympic women's single sculls by a photofinish and 0.1 seconds, in the first final on Penrith Lakes, and one of the tightest singles races ever.
