DETROIT, Mich. (WOOD) — A Michigan woman is looking to make ripples in rowing history at Rio.

Four years ago, Detroit native Katelin Snyder had to watch on land as her team won gold in London. Snyder had been cut from the team.

“It was a tough pill to swallow,” Snyder said. “I spent a lot of time pretty angry and blaming everybody but myself.”

Now Snyder is looking to turn her heartache into victory at her very first Olympics.

“It definitely makes Rio that much sweeter. And I don’t think that I would have been so appreciative and I don’t think that I would be at the level that I am at if I didn’t get cut. It all worked out great,” she said.

Snyder will coxswain a USA Women’s 8 team that has won ten consecutive world championships and is looking for its third straight Olympic gold medal.

“There’s not a lot of pressure for us because we are so, so lucky. Every time that we come to practice, we get to train with Olympic gold medalists,” Snyder said.

Ironically the coxswain who took the spot Snyder competed for four years ago happens to be her biggest influence – two-time gold medalist Mary Whipple.

“Being able to be on a team with her and observe that is something that I really, really took with me when I came back this quad. I wanted to emulate it and wanted to kind of take her style and make it my own,” said Snyder.

Snyder will get her chance to show off her own style on Copacabana Bay when heats begin Aug. 8.