Canada building momentum towards 2024

Team Canada is ready to row to the podium at the 2022 World Rowing Championships from September 18-25 in Racice, Czech Republic. 

Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) selected 9 crews and 35 athletes to take on the world’s best rowers in Racice next month. The women’s eight returns following a silver medal finish at World Cup 3 in Lucerne while the men’s eight continues building momentum finishing 6^th at that event despite illness within the crew.

“Our crew has been developing strongly under the leadership of our coach Maksym Kepskyy,” said Tokyo 2020 Olympian Jakub Buczek. “One of our biggest strengths is our positive culture which has steered us through the inevitable challenges.”

Olympic teammate Luke Gadsdon also added that “the men’s eight crew have been making huge strides in strength and cohesion and we are looking forward to throwing down on the world stage after a disappointing bout of covid during the World Cup events.”

Olympic champion, Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski returns to the women’s eight, adding even more fuel to the powerhouse Canadian boat. 

“I’m really excited to be back with all my teammates from all the crews and excited to race the eight again,” said Gruchalla-Wesierski. “I’m hoping to add my strength to what the crew has already built this past year. The break, since Tokyo, has been exactly what I needed to be 110% on this journey.” 

Jenny Casson, also making her return to international competition, joins Tokyo 2020 Olympic partner, Jill Moffatt in the lightweight women’s double, following a long road to recovery from double hip surgery.

“In October 2021, I simply wanted to get fixed and walk pain-free,” said Casson. “The motto of ‘baby steps’ got me from a 10-minute walk in April to racing in the double today. All I could do was put my head down and listen to the experts and appreciate every step forward. This event really means the world to me.”

Elisa Bolinger teams up with Marilou Duvernay-Tardif in the women’s double following her silver medal finish in the double at the U23 World Championships in Italy this summer.

“It has been a great transition to the senior level with ample support from teammates and coaches. I’m really excited to be working with Marilou and I cannot wait to see how much we can learn within the next month leading into World Championships.”

Athlete selections were conducted at the National Training Centre on Quamichan Lake in August with selections reviewed and approved by an independent selection panel.  The team travels to Munich, Germany on September 3, training at the Olympic Regatta Centre in Dachau, moving to the World Championship venue on September 15.

When and Where 

World Rowing Championships

Racice, Czech Republic
Sept 18-25, 2022

https://www.rowingracice.com/cz/

 

World Championship Team Roster 

 

Women’s Eight (W8+ )	Home Club
Alexis Cronk	University of Victoria Rowing Club
Kirsten Edwards	University of Victoria Rowing Club
Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski	Club d’Aviron Knowlton
Sydney Payne	Brentwood College Rowing Club
Morgan Rosts	Ridley Graduate Boat Club
Jessica Sevick	University of British Columbia/Calgary Rowing Club
Gabrielle Smith	Aviron Knowlton Rowing
Avalon Wasteneys	University of Victoria Rowing Club
Kristen Kit (Coxswain)	University of British Columbia/St. Catharines Rowing Club
Women’s Four (W4-)
Rebecca Zimmerman	University of Victoria Rowing Club/Brockville Rowing Club
Claire Brillon	University of British Columbia
Cassidy Deane	Kingston Rowing Club
Karen Lefsrud	Calgary Rowing Club
Women’s Pair (W2-)
Rianne Boekhorst	Winnipeg Rowing Club
Kristina Walker	Kingston Rowing Club/ University of British Columbia
Women’s Double (W2x)
Elisa Bolinger	Western University Rowing Club
Marilou Duvernay Tardif	Aviron Knowlton Rowing
Lightweight Women’s Double (LW2x)
Jennifer Casson	Kingston Rowing Club
Jill Moffatt	Western University Rowing Club
Lightweight Women’s Single (LW1x)
Karissa Riley (alternate)	Calgary Rowing Club/Western University Rowing Club
Women’s Single (W1x)
Shannon Kennedy (alternate)	London Western Rowing Club
Men’s Single (M1x)
Trevor Jones	Peterborough Rowing Club
Men’s Eight (M8+)
Curtis Ames	Calgary Rowing Club/Western University Rowing Club
Terek Been	Montreal Rowing Club
Jakub Buczek	St. Catharines Rowing Club
Will Crothers	Kingston Rowing Club
Ryan Clegg	Western University Rowing Club
Luke Gadsdon	Leander Boat Club/Brock University
Josh King	Ottawa Rowing Club
Peter Lancashire	Brentwood College
Coxswain: Laura Court	St. Catharines Rowing Club
Men’s Double (M2x)
Dan de Groot	St. Catharines Rowing Club
Gavin Stone	Queen’s University Rowing Club/Island Lake Rowing Club
Alternates
Cody Bailey	London Western Rowing Club
Katie Clark	University of British Columbia

Canadian Coaches:  

Jeremy Ivey 

Maksym Kepskyy 

Dane Lawson 

Carol Love 

Janine Stephens

John Wetzstein

For more information:

Colleen Coderre
Communications Lead
coderre@rowingcanada.org