Background
Zelenka was born in Park Ridge, Illinois.
Zelenka was born in Park Ridge, Illinois.
She was a basketball player at Lake Park High School. She did not start rowing until her freshman year of college at Grand Valley State University. In 2008, Zelenka helped lead Grand Valley"s women"s eight to the American Collegiate Rowing Association national title.
In the 2009 World Rowing Under-23 Championships, she finished sixth in the women"s four.
On July 28, 2012 Zelenka made it to the Olympic finals with a time of 6:59.29. In the finals, Sarah came in fourth with a time of 7:30.39.
She was a member of the 2012 United States Summer Olympic team, having competed in the women"s pair race.