The US Olympic Crews

[philrow]

Does anybody know of any sources that provide any kind of valuable information on the US Olympic crews for Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, or Beijing? Despite all efforts, I can find very little if any information on the actual crews. I'd like to actually get to know the athletes representing my country in my sport! Information even as basic as name, boat, rowing experience, and physical dimensions would be great. Even information about the US national team is hard to come by! I understand that rowing is an amateur sport and so such information may not be so widely publicized. I know more about the Polish 4x and the New Zealand 1xs than I do about any US boat! In fact, any information on any national or Olympic crews would be interesting to me, if anybody knows any sources of such information.

Thanks,
Phil

[ausrwr]

Phil, there's a lot of biographic data on www.rowingone.com, probably your best source.

AT

[philrow]

"Born in 1887; exact birthdate unknown"

[ccwenk]

http://www.usrowing.org/News_Media/Athl ... index.aspx

[philrow]

Wow, thanks ccwenk. I'm actually quite shocked that after all of my searching around on the USRowing website that I hadn't come across that page.

Phil

[ccwenk]

No problem. It took me a couple minutes to find it and I knew it was there.

[philrow]

There are "only" 22 men on the 2007 USRowing U23 team. Of these, 10 are lightweights. Apparently only a lightweight 4x, either a 4- or 4+, and a 2x were fielded. Does anybody know why this would be? I can only imagine that the pool from which boats were pulled wasn't strong enough to come up with a competitive 8+, 2-, or 1x as well? I find this hard to believe, though, given the huge pool of capable rowers in the US. So then in turn I could only imagine that apparently very few of those capable rowers have interest in rowing for the US team?

In the thread "Competitive College Rowing," I go on about trying to decide whether to row lightweight or heavyweight. Well, for the time being, I've decided to stick with lightweight. However, looking at those 10 lightweights, only three are taller than 6', and only 5 are heavier than 155lbs. At 165lbs and pushing 6'3, I feel like I would hardly belong among that lightweight team (granted, I don't belong in terms of performance; but hey, I've still got almost 5 years to row U23 Oh and I'm 165lbs eating anything and everything in sight as one must do sometimes as an athlete in college... I could easily pull 160lbs/72.5kg on a proper diet!)! Of course I suppose the whole ridiculous "72.5kg weight limit, but the average has to be 70kg" deal. I think that's the most ridiculous provision in rowing today! That means I can be 72kg, but only if there's another rower that's 68kg or if the other rowers are much lighter than me to balance it out -- fat lightweight discrimination! This is quite frustrating, because the more I look into things, the more it seems as if I'm really in my own non-existent midweight class.

Anyway, the teams given are from 2007. So are 2008 boats still being determined?

Phil

[sammac112]

yea,

you can see the month to month results from national team testing here,

http://www.usrowing.org/Olympic_Nationa ... sults.aspx

[almostflipped]

Apparently only a lightweight 4x, either a 4- or 4+, and a 2x were fielded. Does anybody know why this would be?

Traditionally the lightweight squad has not even been sent to compete. That has changed and a camp is held to select the varying boats. I think the sculling camp was held at GMS Rowing Center or Saugatuck Rowing Club in Connecticut, but I do not recall if the sweep camp was there as well (I think they may have been at Mercer). To my knowledge there was no intention of fielding a light 8 and I believe the 1x and 2- did not meet the necessary time standard. That being said, the trials for U23's are open to anyone. If you think your boat is faster than the camps, read the NT rules on the USRowing website and go about entering trials next year.

So then in turn I could only imagine that apparently very few of those capable rowers have interest in rowing for the US team?

Many have no interest at all. Instead they focus on internships or just relaxing some after a grueling spring.

At 165lbs and pushing 6'3, I feel like I would hardly belong among that lightweight team

In terms of your size, those are closer to race weights that they list rather than off season weight. One or two of those guys are actually around 170 in the off season. This isn't to say you are small enough, but that it is possible for someone your size to be a lightweight. Get an accurate body fat test done to help determine whether it is possible (generally you would want to be no lower than 4-5% at race weight and should allow for 2-3 lbs of water loss to achieve weight).

Anyway, the teams given are from 2007. So are 2008 boats still being determined?

I'm not certain of the details for this year's selection, but camp invites shouldn't be going out for another few months and I believe trials will be in July. May be different though, Olympic years generally run a bit different than other years.

If you aspire to be a part of the NT I would suggest going to the USRowing website and familiarizing yourself with the selection procedures. This will give you a better ability to plan for the future and prepare for your run at camp/trials.[/quote]

[philrow]

Traditionally the lightweight squad has not even been sent to compete... To my knowledge there was no intention of fielding a light 8 and I believe the 1x and 2- did not meet the necessary time standard.

Why would this be? And if there are going to be any lightweight boats, it would seem like an 8+ would at least be considered. I don't mean to devalue the athletes in the 1x and 2-, but if they didn't make the time standard, then the pool must really be "lacking" in terms of what is usually seen at such a high level?

If you think your boat is faster than the camps, read the NT rules on the USRowing website and go about entering trials next year.

No boat I've ever been in would be faster than any camp boat. Oh, and I no longer have a club, so I don't even have a boat!

In terms of your size, those are closer to race weights that they list rather than off season weight. One or two of those guys are actually around 170 in the off season.

Well I wouldn't really consider myself to be in an "off-season." I'm prepped to race. I could eat better, but it's tough to do that in a school environment where I'm always hungry, I have very limited money, the meal-plans are inadequate (who eats only 3 meals a day??), and places to eat aren't always open. That would probably shed a pound or two. If I really wanted to lose the weight, I suppose I could. But honestly, almost 6'3 and 155lbs just isn't appealing to me. I'd probably prefer 6'3 and 195lbs...

Get an accurate body fat test done to help determine whether it is possible

I've wanted to have one of these for awhile now, just out of curiosity. I really don't know how I would go about getting one though. Could I just go in for a physical and get a test done?

If you aspire to be a part of the NT I would suggest going to the USRowing website and familiarizing yourself with the selection procedures. This will give you a better ability to plan for the future and prepare for your run at camp/trials.

It is an aspiration, to say the least. Right now, I use the notion and the accomplishments of rowers on the National and Olympic teams as motivation for my own training. Who knows where that will take me.

Thanks for your input!
Phil