And it’s official: selection camp is over, Trials are completed, and we’re Slovenia-bound! Woohoo! (Check out the USRowing Press Release here)
An early morning row in the 8+ (photo by S. Pallat)
Since we returned from Europe, we’ve survived a record-breaking heat wave (100F+ !!), epic summer thunderstorms, intense bouts of seat-racing, an outing in a 4- at Senior Worlds Trials, and my 25th birthday… what a wild four weeks!
Aside from a few sunburns, new blisters, and sore muscles, Team USA emerged from Selection Camp mostly unscathed, and ready to race. Making the World Champ roster was no easy feat: Team USA’s athlete pool is incredibly talented, which meant that every rower had to fight tooth-and-nail for her spot in a boat.
Amanda Polk, Taylor Ritzel, Esther Lofgren, Meghan Musnicki, Elle Logan, Mary Whipple, and I all return from last year’s World Champ 8+. We are joined by Susan Francia and Caroline Lind, two incredibly experienced rowers and Beijing gold medalists.
We set out tomorrow for a pre-Worlds training camp in Munich, then we’ll bus down to Bled the following weekend. Racing takes place from Sunday, August 28th to Sunday, September 4th. As of today, it looks like the W8+ will race in heats on Monday morning, the reps on Wednesday, and the Finals on Friday, but the racing schedule will probably change as countries add/withdraw various entries.
Beautiful Lake Bled: Blue water, the Alps, and a fairy-tale castle on an island. SO EXCITED! (photo by Mihael Arčan)
Given the strength, experience, and motivation present within our ranks, I know that the American crews will be a force to be reckoned with in Slovenia. Look out, World, here come the Yanks!
You can check out photo galleries, athlete updates, and race results on www.row2k.com. Once racing starts, you access live coverage and race results at www.worldrowing.com.
And finally: good luck to everyone racing at Pan-Am Trials this week!
