In her debut for Team USA on Oct. 23 at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, Kate Horvat ’14 rowed to a gold medal in the Women’s Quadruple Scull. One day later, she earned silver in the Women’s Eight. Overall, the United States Women’s Rowing Team accumulated 10 medals across the five-day regatta, the best performance at a Pan American Games since 1999. Overall, the United States finished with 286 medals (124 gold!), 81 more than Brazil, who finished second in the medal count. 

“That was definitely something to be proud of,” Horvat said. “It was close racing, very intense, and very fun. This was my first U.S. team that I've made and I’m very grateful. To be a part of an international race at that level, the boat yard with all the different federations, and just the level of professionalism was awesome to be a part of.

“Winning didn’t sink in until we were on the medal stand and they were raising the American flag and singing the anthem,” she continued. “That’s when I realized this isn't a medal just for me, but for the United States of America also.”

After graduating from Germantown Academy, Horvat continued her academic and athletic career at Yale University, and then attended the University of Cambridge. She even rowed for the “light blues” of Cambridge against the “dark blues” of Oxford University in the 74^thWomen’s Boat Race. She thought she was done with rowing after finishing school, but found herself missing the sport, and started thinking about the “what-ifs” in 2020. She has been training ever since, with the goal of becoming an Olympian like her grandfather, Vladimir, when he rowed for Yugoslavia in the 1952 Summer Olympics. 

“It's not like basketball or football where there's a domestic championship or something,” Horvat said. “It's pretty much you can do it for fun, for summer racing, or you're trying to make the Olympics. So that's the end goal. It’s to be determined, but that's what I'm working towards.” 

Horvat’s next big race will be the Winter Speed Order in February, which she said will be a big decider for a lot of people, including herself, if they will be invited to the U.S. Olympic Camp for the summer. While she realizes her goal is lofty, Horvat is not afraid due to the lessons she learned in high school.

“I took a lot of risks with academics and athletics, but I knew I was safe doing it because I was at GA,” Horvat said. “I knew I could ‘fail’, and it would be okay, and no one would penalize me for it. It was a great place that encouraged that, especially when high school is filled with pressure. Risk taking was encouraged in a good way, and the work I do now is a massive risk - you give up careers, relationships, and a lot of hallmarks of your 20s for something that isn’t guaranteed to be successful. 

“Even going to GA was a risk, and it totally paid off,” Horvat concluded. “Undoubtably, it turned into the best decision of my life. So many wonderful things happened to and for me after that and I am grateful.”