Pictured: Clark Dean at the Nathan Benderson Aquatic Park, taken by Wyatt Kostygan.

It’s triumphant enough to have one local—formerly, or currently—go to the Olympics to represent Team USA. But to have four? Four outstanding athletes that hold roots to the (941) that are heading to Tokyo to make their mark on history? Now that’s impressive, medal coming home or not. From Women’s Swimming and Women’s Air Rifle to Men’s Rowing and Men’s Street Skateboarding, we'll be celebrating the young talented squad of Sarasotans that have qualified in their respective sport and whom we await excitedly to watch on our televisions this weekend as the Olympics kick-off and air worldwide.

While you may have read/seen local news stories of their victories, we're rolling out daily, candid Q&A style interviews—based on the famous Proust Questionnaire—with each of them throughout the week. So before putting on your red, white and blue outfits to cheer them on through the screen, get to know each of the athletes beyond their sport and what they're most looking forward to competing in the Games. Queue the flame. 

Clark Atlas Dean

Age: 21 

Hometown:  Sarasota, FL

Current City: Oakland, CA 

Beginnings: Sarasota Crew Rowing Club in 2012.

Current Titles: U19 World champion in single scull 2017 & 2018, World record holder u19 single scull, US Rowing U19 athlete of the year 2015 and 2018. 

Competing Olympic Sport: Men’s Rowing 4- (also called the “straight four”) 

Share a brief description of a recent day in the life.  Wake up at 6:00 am to get to our first morning row at 7:20. The Olympic Team has no boathouse of its own so we work around the schedule of the Cal Berkeley rowing team, and row out of their boathouse. Our first row goes from around 7:20 to 9:30, we then get off the water and go get a quick breakfast at a nearby grocery store. We return to the boathouse around 10:45 for a shorter technical row. After this second session, we would head home to rest for a few hours before our land session of weights and indoor rowing machines that goes from 3:30 to 5:30. Most days, we will have some video review and boat meetings following our land session. 

What are you most excited about going to the Olympics/representing Team USA? Racing and potentially winning a medal for my boat, my family, and my country. Since being a kid I dreamed of being able to represent my country on a stage like this.

When you were younger you always dreamed of growing up to be . . . An Olympian! I saw how much more popular the sport of swimming became in America once Michael Phelps entered the world stage and still dream of having a similar impact in the sport of rowing. 

Your guilty pleasure . . .Publix chicken tenders 

Your favorite heroes in fiction . . .Captain America 

Your favorite heroes in real life . . . Michael Phelps, my parents, and my grandma! 

If you could snap your fingers and be anywhere, where would it be? Sarasota! I haven’t been home since January 2nd and can’t wait to see my family after the Games. 

What was the funniest thing you remember doing as a kid?  Coming up with games to play using my friend's golf cart, which we crashed three separate times. 

Would you rather have a rewind button or a pause button in your life? Pause; anyone who has seen the movie Click knows time travel is a slippery slope. I could just pause occasionally when super busy to stay on top of my work! 

What in your mind is the biggest fashion faux pas? Wearing rowing gear in non-rowing settings. 

If you could undo one invention in the world, what would it be? Social Media 

What do you consider the most underrated virtue? Altruism 

What do you consider your greatest achievement thus far? Knowing I am helping motivate younger rowers. 

What achievement/goal do you have set for yourself in the next 5 years? 10 years? In 5 years: Graduate from college and compete at another Olympics. In 10 years: Have a fulfilling job and meaningful relationships. 

Where you most like to live . . . I love Sarasota and Florida but could see myself living in Boston after graduating from Harvard. 

What is your most treasured possession? My used 2012 Toyota Avalon 

On the plane, you’ll be. . .Prepping for classes I intend to take this fall, and sleeping. 

What are you most excited to see or try whilst in Tokyo? I have only ever been to Europe before and am excited to experience Japanese culture and food. 

What is your most memorable or cherished moment whilst competing? Qualifying the 4- at the 2019 World Championships was an important step to making the team this year and will always be a cherished memory. 

If you weren’t an Olympian in your own sport, what other sport would you love to represent/compete in the Summer Olympics?  I envy swimmers and how they are able to compete in so many different events in one Summer, with rowing you only have one shot in one boat every 4 years.

Which country are you most intimated by in your sport? No country “intimidates” me, but the British 4- have won every Olympics since 1996 and could be considered the favorites. However, in 2019 we were less than 2 seconds off them, so I think we can get them. 

Tune in on Friday, July 23 at 7:30pm EDT to watch Clark Dean and his team in the Men's Rowing Four heat. 

Pictured: Clark Dean at the Nathan Benderson Aquatic Park, taken by Wyatt Kostygan.

Full Olympics Rowing Schedule found here.