On the water and in the Air Force
This is one in a series of profiles showcasing some of Harvard’s stellar graduates. When a recurring foot injury derailed Courtney Diekema’s Harvard soccer career almost as soon as it started, she did what savvy kids have been doing for millennia: She listened to her mother. Diekema’s mother suggested she try rowing, a nonimpact sport in which her 6-foot, 1-inch height would be an asset. Though she had never rowed before, Diekema fit right in. She was already an athlete, which was a big boost, and women’s rowing coach Liz O’Leary was used to training novices. Diekema rapidly progressed, and in the spring of her junior year helped the women’s heavyweight eight boat to win the Ivy League championship. That sent her squad to the NCAA championships, where it placed ninth. Her performance earned Diekema a second team All-America designation. “She’s wonderful,” O’Leary said. “She has a great sense of humor. She’s motivated and driven...