S5E5 - Sue and John Hooten's Mutual Admiration Society

This is the second episode in a series on heart attacks and emergency preparedness. In this multi-part series you’ll hear first hand accounts from rowers who survived heart attacks, teammates and coaches who witnessed these events, and even from widows who reflect on warning signs and “what ifs.”

On this episode:
A member of the first U.S. women’s Olympic team and a longtime masters rower, Sue Hooten has a lifetime of rowing memories. She learned to row in California in the early 1970s, really appreciated the boathouse sock box in Philadelphia, and has raced around the world. In March 2018, her husband, former National Team and Vesper Boat Club coach John Hooten, had a medical emergency on the water while training in his 1x. He was out with his training partner, without a coach, and – like most rowers – was not wearing a PFD.

Stay tuned ‘til the end. We tapped Tom Rooks, USRowing’s Director of Safeguarding, for top safety tips that scullers – who row without a coach present – should consider.

Other episodes in this series:
Giving and Getting Support: Burnham Boat Slings’ Peter Kermond

For One Heart Attack Survivor, the Beat Goes On

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QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Episode lead-in
01:57 - The Huddle: Get to know Sue
05:55 - Sue’s Rowing Week… could have been better: arthritis & cataracts
06:37 - Hot Seat Q&A
11:20 - Sue’s rowing story began as walk on at UC Santa Barbara
14:29 - Meeting Coach Harry Parker and moving to Boston for National Team selection camp
18:47 - Coach Ted Nash paired Sue with Laura (Staines) Giardano for the 2x
22:27 - Meeting Vesper coach John Hooten
24:36 - About John and his unconventional way of looking at things
29:37 - John’s return to rowing in 2016
31:14 - March 5, 2018: The day John didn’t make it back to the dock
33:20 - Looking back at warning signs
35:57 - Could a life jacket have helped John?
38:21 - Staying connected with friends after John’s death
39:23 - What’s ahead for Sue’s rowing life in 2024?
41:57 - Tom’s Top Tips: USRowing safety guidelines for scullers rowing without a coach present

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To see photos of Sue and John, and get links to the people, clubs, events, and resources mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

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This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, Live2Row, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons.

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This episode was written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.