University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Varsity
/ Rowing
Former Gopher Chases Rowing Dreams
5/8/2023 11:30:00 AM | Rowing
From walk-on to international competition
MINNEAPOLIS - Lauren Miller, a former rower at the University of Minnesota, began her career by taking a chance. Her start as a novice walk-on fueled her desire to improve and has grown into the pursuit of new dreams to compete at the sport's highest level.
"I was an athlete for my entire life," Miller said. "I was a swimmer and did triathlons as well, but I knew I probably wasn't going to swim in college. I am someone who loves the team atmosphere, and the structure that a sport provides is really important to me. I was exploring options to get involved on campus and actually found rowing by accident."
It was the best accident possible for Miller as she met the previous Gophers coach during Welcome Week in the fall of 2013 and decided to give a new sport a try, despite not knowing anything about it. She began with the novice squad and found a love for the sport. The rest is history.
A native of St. Cloud, Minn., she competed in four races with the second novice eight as a freshman, including a victory over Boston University at the Boston Challenge to begin her career. Miller and her 2N8 teammates closed the year placing fifth at the Big Ten Championships.
"During your first year in a new sport, it's a little bit of a tornado where everything is brand new," Miller added. "Everything was fresh and a bit scary, but it was very fun. Coming into my second year and joining the varsity team, I had the opportunity to keep building upon what I had just begun to learn in that first year. Seeing progress, especially in the early stages of learning, was exciting for me. Finding joy in the process and looking for improvement each day is still extremely important to me."
After finishing her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience in 2018, Miller moved out to Saratoga Springs, N.Y., to train full-time for a year and a half before making the decision to come back to campus to coach. She helped guide the novice team for three years while pursuing her MBA at the Carlson School of Management, which she finished last spring.
"Coming back to coach after training for the first time really gave me an appreciation of how much work and effort is put in behind the scenes for collegiate athletics. I also realized how passionate the staff are; how they really, truly are doing everything they can to make their athletes succeed. Seeing it from the coaching side made me appreciate how when a coach or teammate tells you that they believe in you, they really meant it. With the stresses that come with being a student-athlete, you don't always take that to heart. It's coming from a very genuine place, and they say it because they truly want to see you succeed."
It was while coaching the Maroon and Gold that Miller found a renewed love for the sport, and she made the decision to return to full-time training with the Advanced Rowing Initiative of the Northeast (ARION).
"At the elite level, training and competing can feel more individual, as opposed to college, where it is one team against another. Each person in this pool is competing for a set number of spots on a national team. Because of this change, I try to focus on the small, individual wins and progress I am making. Luckily, although you are competing for the same thing, you can relish that experience together, both the highs and the lows. This shared experience develops very close friendships because of that."
Miller recently traveled down to San Pedro de la Paz, Chile, for 10 days to compete in the Pan American Games Qualification Regatta with Team USA. She was part of the women's four that won a silver medal and secured a spot in the 2023 Pan American Games, which are scheduled for October back in Chile.
"It was my first international race, so for me, that was very exciting and something I am thankful for as I begin this journey. Having gone to grad school and now making the decision to come back and train, I feel like I am starting fresh, with a new perspective. Having been in the 'real world' has made me really appreciate the process of training and the opportunity that is here."
It's now a balancing act for Miller as she works full-time for Medtronic, while continuing her elite training regime in New York.
"For someone like me that's newer to the system and international racing, taking that small step and having those experiences is especially important. I am very grateful for it."
She knows her journey into international competition is still in the early stages as she takes things one step at a time in an effort to reach her lofty dreams.
"This training can be hard and challenging at times, but developmentally, I am looking into the long term. I want to see how much improvement, fitness and technical skill I can continue to accumulate over the next several months and years to reach the best version of myself."
This summer, Miller has her sights set on World Championship selection. Worlds are in September, and then the Olympic qualifying process starts next year. As she continues her push to attain those goals, she's utilized the support system built back on the University of Minnesota campus.
![]()
"I have teammates and classmates that I still talk with; and the coaching staff there now is the group I worked with as a graduate assistant. I've stayed in contact with them, especially (current novice coach) Victoria West regularly. I love the people, the team, and the fact that I could show up every day and challenge myself physically and mentally. For me, the experience that I had at Minnesota, both as an athlete and coach, was instrumental in developing me into the person that I am now."
Taking that initial step to try a new sport proved to be a life-changing experience for Miller. In addition to new skills developed, she learned to challenge herself and that has led to becoming a better athlete and a better human as well.
"There is so much to be learned in sports generally, as to how to be the best version of yourself; athletically of course, but also mentally and emotionally. I really credit my experiences at Minnesota with a lot of that. The support of the team, through our challenges and achievements, was transformative for me. I carry those skills I learned from those teams with me to this day."
"I was an athlete for my entire life," Miller said. "I was a swimmer and did triathlons as well, but I knew I probably wasn't going to swim in college. I am someone who loves the team atmosphere, and the structure that a sport provides is really important to me. I was exploring options to get involved on campus and actually found rowing by accident."
It was the best accident possible for Miller as she met the previous Gophers coach during Welcome Week in the fall of 2013 and decided to give a new sport a try, despite not knowing anything about it. She began with the novice squad and found a love for the sport. The rest is history.
A native of St. Cloud, Minn., she competed in four races with the second novice eight as a freshman, including a victory over Boston University at the Boston Challenge to begin her career. Miller and her 2N8 teammates closed the year placing fifth at the Big Ten Championships.
"During your first year in a new sport, it's a little bit of a tornado where everything is brand new," Miller added. "Everything was fresh and a bit scary, but it was very fun. Coming into my second year and joining the varsity team, I had the opportunity to keep building upon what I had just begun to learn in that first year. Seeing progress, especially in the early stages of learning, was exciting for me. Finding joy in the process and looking for improvement each day is still extremely important to me."
After finishing her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience in 2018, Miller moved out to Saratoga Springs, N.Y., to train full-time for a year and a half before making the decision to come back to campus to coach. She helped guide the novice team for three years while pursuing her MBA at the Carlson School of Management, which she finished last spring.
"Coming back to coach after training for the first time really gave me an appreciation of how much work and effort is put in behind the scenes for collegiate athletics. I also realized how passionate the staff are; how they really, truly are doing everything they can to make their athletes succeed. Seeing it from the coaching side made me appreciate how when a coach or teammate tells you that they believe in you, they really meant it. With the stresses that come with being a student-athlete, you don't always take that to heart. It's coming from a very genuine place, and they say it because they truly want to see you succeed."
It was while coaching the Maroon and Gold that Miller found a renewed love for the sport, and she made the decision to return to full-time training with the Advanced Rowing Initiative of the Northeast (ARION).
"At the elite level, training and competing can feel more individual, as opposed to college, where it is one team against another. Each person in this pool is competing for a set number of spots on a national team. Because of this change, I try to focus on the small, individual wins and progress I am making. Luckily, although you are competing for the same thing, you can relish that experience together, both the highs and the lows. This shared experience develops very close friendships because of that."
Miller recently traveled down to San Pedro de la Paz, Chile, for 10 days to compete in the Pan American Games Qualification Regatta with Team USA. She was part of the women's four that won a silver medal and secured a spot in the 2023 Pan American Games, which are scheduled for October back in Chile.
"It was my first international race, so for me, that was very exciting and something I am thankful for as I begin this journey. Having gone to grad school and now making the decision to come back and train, I feel like I am starting fresh, with a new perspective. Having been in the 'real world' has made me really appreciate the process of training and the opportunity that is here."
It's now a balancing act for Miller as she works full-time for Medtronic, while continuing her elite training regime in New York.
"For someone like me that's newer to the system and international racing, taking that small step and having those experiences is especially important. I am very grateful for it."
She knows her journey into international competition is still in the early stages as she takes things one step at a time in an effort to reach her lofty dreams.
"This training can be hard and challenging at times, but developmentally, I am looking into the long term. I want to see how much improvement, fitness and technical skill I can continue to accumulate over the next several months and years to reach the best version of myself."
This summer, Miller has her sights set on World Championship selection. Worlds are in September, and then the Olympic qualifying process starts next year. As she continues her push to attain those goals, she's utilized the support system built back on the University of Minnesota campus.
"I have teammates and classmates that I still talk with; and the coaching staff there now is the group I worked with as a graduate assistant. I've stayed in contact with them, especially (current novice coach) Victoria West regularly. I love the people, the team, and the fact that I could show up every day and challenge myself physically and mentally. For me, the experience that I had at Minnesota, both as an athlete and coach, was instrumental in developing me into the person that I am now."
Taking that initial step to try a new sport proved to be a life-changing experience for Miller. In addition to new skills developed, she learned to challenge herself and that has led to becoming a better athlete and a better human as well.
"There is so much to be learned in sports generally, as to how to be the best version of yourself; athletically of course, but also mentally and emotionally. I really credit my experiences at Minnesota with a lot of that. The support of the team, through our challenges and achievements, was transformative for me. I carry those skills I learned from those teams with me to this day."
Head of the Mississippi Hype
Wednesday, October 08
Third Varsity Four Wins Again at B1G Invite
Monday, April 21
Second Novice Eight Wins at B1G Invite
Monday, April 21
First Varsity Four Wins at B1G Invite
Saturday, April 19