Team Update

Just to keep everyone up to date on the entire status of the Canadian Olympic Rowing Team, here it is.

The last chance Olympic Qualification Regatta was held in Poland on June 19/20. We had several crews entered in this regatta because of a few sub-par performances at the 2007 World Championships by some crews. I will list them below as qualified or not.

As you will see we are sending a team of 8 boats to the Olympics in Beijing. We have had a couple of crews really step up to the plate this season and have some great performances. The Men's Pair of Scott Frandsen and David Calder won the World Cup in Lucerne and also the Qualifier in Poland. Other countries were asking where these guys came from. Scott is an extremely good rower and just missed out on making the Eight by 2.25 seconds over two trials and this will be David's third Olympic Games....a season veteran. (he took a few years off following Athens)
The Women's Eight has also made great strides finishing 3rd in Lucerne in a very tight race and 2nd to the reigning Olympic Champions Romania. They only lost by 0.01!!!

I would have to say that the medal favorites from Canada right now are of course the Men's Eight with yours truly steering the ship, Men's Pair, Women's Eight and Lightweight Women's Double. (Light Women have medaled twice on the World Cup tour this year)

That pretty much brings you up to date on the status of the entire team at the moment. It did really suck when the Quad and Four from the heavymen's camp didn't qualify....they needed a great start and it just wasn't there for either crew. They got behind early and couldn't make up the ground to qualify. Several of those guys have not retired from the sport not having had the chance to compete for an Olympic medal. I feel bad, but my journey must forge ahead....I still have some work to do.

Qualified in Poland
Heavyweight Women's Eight (won qualifier)
Lightweight Men's Double (3rd in qualifier)
Heavyweight Men's Pair (won qualifier)

Qualified at 2007 World Rowing Championships
Heavyweight Men's Eight (World Champions)
Heavyweight Women's Pair (8th)
Heavyweight Women's Quad (5th)
Lightweight Men's Four (4th)
Lightweight Women's Double (7th)

Missed Qualifying
Heavyweight Men's Quad (4th at qualifier)
Heavyweight Men's Four (3rd at qualifier)