2008 Games in Beijing, China Are Olympic Debut for Three Rowers
BEIJING--(Business Wire)--
The California Rowing Club, a national training center for
elite-level rowers, began Olympic competition in Beijing today. Three
athletes from the California Rowing Club are on the US Olympic Rowing
Team and began competition today at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing
Park in Beijing, China.
Competing in the men's double sculls are California Rowing Club
athletes Elliot Hovey and Wes Piermarini. California Rowing Club
teammate Scott Gault is competing in the men's quadruple scull. The
crew of the US quadruple scull includes Scott Gault in the stroke
position, Jamie Schroeder at three, Sam Stitt at two, and Matt Hughes
in the bow seat. Tim McLaren, head coach of the California Rowing Club
is with US National Team in Beijing as an official coach.
"The athletes from the California Rowing Club are thrilled to be
at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, representing the United States
in rowing competition, and we're thrilled to see them there," said
Rich Hallock, executive director and CFO of the California Rowing
Club. "It's a fantastic experience for the athletes and a real treat
for the fans and supporters of our new club."
Rowing competition at the 2008 Olympic Games continues from
Saturday, August 9 to Sunday, August 17. The final races, where
Olympic medals will be awarded, will be held August 16 and 17.
California Rowing Club, Olympic representatives:
Scott Gault is a resident of Piedmont, Calif., who rowed for the
University of Washington, arrived at the California Rowing Club in
2007. Scott's accomplishments with the California Rowing Club and the
US National Team include winning a gold medal at the 2008 Rowing World
Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland in June. Gault was the stroke of the
winning US quadruple scull. The victory is significant as the US men's
quad beat the defending champions, for a first-ever US win in this
event in Europe. This is Gault's first year on the US National Team
and first trip to the Olympic Games.
Elliot Hovey of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass., attended the
University of California, Berkeley and successfully rowed for Cal
Crew. Hovey currently resides in Alameda. His rowing successes include
the 2006 Pac-10 and IRA National Championships. In his first year with
the California Rowing Club, Hovey won the 2007 Canadian Henley men's
double scull event with fellow California Rowing Club oarsman, Mike
Holbrook. This is Hovey's first year on the US National Team and first
trip to the Olympic Games.
Wes Piermarini, a native of West Brookfield, Mass., rowed for the
University of Massachusetts. He has also enjoyed success in club
rowing, both in the United States and Canada. In early July,
Piermarini and Hovey traveled to England to compete in the Henley
Royal Regatta, where they won the Double Sculls Challenge Cup. This is
also Piermarini's first year on the US National Team and first trip to
the Olympic Games.
Tim McLaren is the head coach of the California Rowing Club and is
the former Australian national rowing team head coach. He has won six
Olympic medals, including a silver medal as a competitor in the men's
quadruple sculls from the 1984 Olympic Games, and five medals as a
coach in different boat classes at the past four Olympic Games.
McLaren has also coached several medal-winning crews at the Under-23
(years of age) level in both sculling and sweep rowing. McLaren served
as director and head coach of the University of Technology Rowing Club
in Sydney, which has produced 30 Olympic representatives over three
Olympic cycles.
About the California Rowing Club
Located in Oakland, Calif., the California Rowing Club is a
national training center for elite-level rowers who compete at World
Cup, World Championship, and Olympic levels. The California Rowing
Club works closely with other rowing organizations, including USRowing
and the US National Rowing Team to support the success of US athletes
in the highest levels of domestic and international competition. The
California Rowing Club is a donor-supported 501c3 non-profit
organization, dedicated to improving the sport of competitive rowing.
Please visit online: www.CaliforniaRowingClub.org
For more information, please contact Rich Hallock, executive
director and CFO directly at tel: (510) 899-7906 or e-mail:
Rich.Hallock@CaliforniaRowingClub.org
High-resolution, digital photos of the California Rowing Club and
its athletes are available on request.
California Rowing Club
Rich Hallock, +1-510-899-7906
Executive Director, CFO
Rich.Hallock@CaliforniaRowingClub.org
Copyright Business Wire 2008
