School News
Teal Cohen '17 Named Ela Hockaday Distinguished Alumna
At the Alumnae Fall Cocktail Party on Wednesday, October 30, Immediate Past President Alumnae Association and Event Chair Abby Hoak Morton '05 presented the Ela Hockaday Distinguished Alumna Award.
Teal Cohen ’17 began rowing at Hockaday, and became a three-time All American rower at the University of Washington. She was a member of the largest USRowing team in history at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and her team finished ninth in the Women’s Quad competition.
“Hockaday’s emphasis on making athletics accessible to everyone opened the door for me to discover rowing," said Teal. "Without the exposure to sports from a young age, I’m not sure my journey would have looked the same way.”
Q&A With Teal Cohen '17
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“Hockaday’s emphasis on making athletics accessible to everyone opened the door for me to discover rowing," said Teal. "Without the exposure to sports from a young age, I’m not sure my journey would have looked the same way.”
Q&A With Teal Cohen '17
How did you find out you would be going to the Olympics?
I had to qualify via the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in May in Lucerne. While I had been named to the boat to race at the event, we had to finish in the top two to earn a slot for Paris. It’s a pretty surreal feeling sitting on a start line and knowing the only thing separating you from becoming an Olympian is a six-minute race! It’s calming but also nerve wracking. You have to have your best performance on that day, knowing the hard work has already been done. We executed the best race we could and we won, in a very very tight finish. The third place boat missed out by less than a second. The nature of the Qualification Regatta is incredibly tense, but I think it prepares you very well for the stress of the Olympics.
Did you stay in the Olympic village? What was it like?
Yes! It was amazing. Everywhere you looked there were elite athletes. Imagine a college campus with dorms and dining halls but instead of students it’s the 10,000 best athletes in the world.
Did you meet athletes from other countries? Have you kept in touch with any of them?
I actually have a ton of good friends that I rowed with in college who competed for different countries in Paris. Through them, I have gotten to meet and spend time with so many rowers from different countries. It’s pretty cool to get to get to know other people who are pursuing the same goals.
Did you get to attend any other events/sports?
I got to attend the USA Women’s Basketball semifinal game and that was definitely the highlight for me. We were right in front and it just felt so intimate. I also got to go to a couple nights of track and field. That was incredible, the stadium is massive and has such an amazing energy.
What's something about the Olympic experience that people might not know?
While the Olympics is portrayed as a glamorous event with cool gear, media time, and free things, that is not the reality of life as a full-time athlete. All the work is done in silence in the years leading up to the Olympics. The Olympics is really a celebration of four years of hard work.
What's next? Do you think you will try for another Olympics?
Absolutely. I feel like I still have a lot of untapped potential. Female rowers statistically peak in their early 30s, so I am pretty confident the best years of my career are ahead of me.
The Hockaday School
Within the private school community, The Hockaday School is an independent college-preparatory day school for girls from grades PK–12 located in Dallas, Texas. Students realize their limitless potential through challenging academic curricula, arts, athletics, and extracurricular programs so that they are inspired to lead lives of purpose and impact.