Island-based Rowing sa国际传媒 has embarked on a crucial summer by naming its 31-athlete team to World Cup II in Varese, Italy, which begins Friday and runs through next weekend.
“This is the first major regatta of the season for our crews, and it is important to understand how our long hours of training over the winter [on Quamichan Lake in North Cowichan] stacks up against the rest of the world, especially with the world championships on the horizon,” Rowing sa国际传媒 high-performance director Adam Parfitt said in a statement.
The season will culminate with the world championships Sept. 3-10 in Belgrade, Serbia, which is the main qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The top five to 11 finishing boats in each event in Belgrade will advance to Paris, which will fill out most of the field for the Games.
“Our crews are progressing well and World Cup II is an important milestone in our journey towards Paris,” said Parfitt of Sidney, a former Parkland Secondary rower, who was fourth with the Canadian eight at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Returning to the defending Tokyo Olympic champion Canadian women’s eight boat are University of Victoria Vikes graduate Avalon Wasteneys of Campbell River, Brentwood College graduate Sydney Payne, Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski and coxswain Kristen Kit. Among the five additions to the crew post-Tokyo is Kirsten Edwards of the UVic Vikes.
Veteran Carling Zeeman jumps from the single sculls to give the women’s quad a strategic and powerful push to Paris. Veteran Will Crothers, silver medallist at the 2012 London Olympics, continues displaying staying power and will lead the Canadian men’s eight into the summer at 35.
At the other end of the spectrum, newcomers to the national team are Liam Keane of Victoria in the men’s eight, hoping to follow in the wake of Tokyo Olympian brother Patrick Keane, Katie Clark in the women’s double and Liam Smit and Steven Rosts in the men’s quad.
“It is always a special moment in any elite rower’s career making a senior team for the first time,” Parfitt said.
“For Katie, Liam, Steven and Liam, this is a reward for their determination and commitment to earn their debut selections.”
Clark overcame a serious concussion to chase her Olympic dream.
“I was unsure how this spring racing season was going to unfold. So I couldn’t be more thrilled that it has unfolded like this,” the native of Cranbrook said in a statement.
“Getting the opportunity to race for my country is always good validation for the work that I put in each and every day. I’m super-excited to be making my senior team debut. This is an important step on the road to Paris next year.”
The Canadian rowers will continue pulling at World Cup III in Lucerne, Switzerland, from July 7-9 and in the Royal Henley Regatta on the Thames from June 27 to July 2 before returning to North Cowichan to prepare for the worlds in Belgrade.
