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High School: A 2008 graduate of Doherty Memorial High School in Worcester, Mass. ... rowed for Worcester Crew from 2004-2007, then for Essex Rowing, Inc. since spring 2008 ... won the women's 2k event at the Essex Indoor Rowing Invitational ... rowed in the No. 7 seat of Mayor's Cup Championship varisty eight in Albany, N.Y. in 2007 ... was the No. 3 seat of the women's four (4x) that won the Mass Public High School Championship in 2007 ... rowed in the No. 3 seat of the women's four (4+) as it won the Mass Public High School title twice in a row (2005-06) ... also lettered four years in swimming at DMHS ... Doherty Memorial class valedictorian ... named Superintendent's Scholar in 2008 ... recipient of the DAR Good Citizens Award, Dr. Lee Gurel Award For Excellence in Teaching and Learning Advanced Placement English, the Harvard Book Award, National Merit Letter of Commendation and named an AP Scholar with Honor in 2007 ... earned Gold Award on the National Latin exam in 2005.
Personal: Born in Worcester, Mass. ... parents are Leslie and Jane Malkiewich ... has two brothers, Evan and Cary ... majoring in psychology.
Getting to Know Laura Malkiewich:
| Parents | Leslie and Jane Malkiewich |
| Siblings | Evan and Cary |
| Major | Psychology |
| Contemplated Profession | Psychiatrist or ER doctor |
| Other hobbies outside of Stanford | Dance (hip-hop, jazz, modern, point, tap), writing |
| I was introduced to rowing by: | My brother started rowing when a stress fracture prevented him from ever running again. He said I wouldn't last two weeks rowing so I used that as incentive to stay with the sport throughout high school. |
| The reason I love rowing is: | It is truly a team sport. There are no superstars. |
| My favorite pre-race ritual is: | Watching Evan Lysacek skate his 2006 Olympic Long Program. It was the best skate of his life and hours before he was in the hospital with IVs in his arm from the flu. It reminds me that there are never excuses for not performing well and 90% of sporting is mental pressure you put on yourself. |
| The Stanford Rowing team will be fun to watch this year because | We have two Olympians! |
| The thing I love most about rowing is: | The feeling of "swing." It is like flying. |
| The thing I love most about sports is: | Camaraderie |
| My favorite food is | Lamb |
| Favorite TV Show | Heroes! |
| Favorite Musical Artist | Damien Rice |
| Favorite Movie | She's The Man |
| My favorite professional/Olympic athlete is | Evan Lysacek |
| The best advice I've ever received was: | I asked my coach how to scull and he said there were only four words any culler needed to know and once they knew them they would never lose a race: "Don't [mess] up...Laura." |
| I am most thankful in my life for | The people I love, and all the ones I have yet to meet. |
| The reason I chose Stanford | I loved Yaz [Farooq]'s positive encouragement. I love Stanford because you get an Ivy League-caliber education in a much more relaxed environment. And I thought "Moonlight On The Quad" was pretty fly. |
| The people who have had the greatest influence on my life are: | My family and close friends |
| Favorite Sports Team | The Red Sox. I don't even like baseball but you can't be from Massachusetts and not be a devoted Red Sox fan. |
| Favorite Sport Other Than Rowing | Dance, or football |