EAST TROY, Wis. — Friends of Stephanie Roble were up at 5 a.m. Sunday morning to cheer her on as she competes in the Summer Olympics.
While they couldn’t make the trip to France, Roble’s cheer team is at the next best place: Lake Beulah Yacht Club, where she learned how to sail.
Katie Murphy is a longtime friend of Roble. She said Roble has been a tenacious sailor from day one.
“She’s always had the mentality that she just wants to work harder than everybody else and that’s what’s gotten her so far,” Murphy said.
Murphy’s sister, Christine McNeil, competed with Roble in college and said it’s a surreal experience watching her live out her dream.
“It was always fun because we grew up down the street from each other. Then, November would come and we’d go to collegiate Sailing Nationals, and we’d meet in Seattle or Texas or whatever. It was fun being back with your childhood friend,” McNeil said.
Murphy and McNeil said they know their friend will succeed. They also cheered her on when she competed in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
“We’re so excited for her,” Murphy said. “We’re really hoping she does really well. We’re going for the gold. We hope to see her have as much success as she can and reset every race and just have the best race every time she puts the boat out on the water.”
Roble and her crewmember, Maggie Shea, competed Sunday in the first three races of the competition. They’re currently in eighth place.
To follow Roble and Shea’s Olympic journey, click here.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly listed the place number for where Stephanie Roble is in the Olympics competition. This error has been corrected. (July 28, 2024)