The Rotsee, in Lucerne, Switzerland sets the stage for a crucial moment in the journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics as rowers gear up for two significant events. The Final Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regatta will see the Men’s Eight, Women’s Quad, and PR1 Women’s Single rowers vying for their ticket to Paris from May 19th to 21^st.

Two coveted berths are up for grabs in the highly competitive Men’s Eight event and the Women’s Quadruple Sculls. In the PR1 Women’s Single, Canada’s Christa Akins must win her race to book her ticket to Paris.

As anticipation mounts, the athletes are prepared to leave it all on the water, striving to secure their spot on the Olympic and Paralympic start lines this summer.

“Our team is passionately focused on qualifying the Men’s Eight for the 2024 Olympics” shares Curtis Ames, echoing the determination of his teammates. “With only two berths for Olympic qualification available and several countries vying for these spots, the competition is fierce, but this challenge has had us pushing our limits every session, each stroke bringing us closer to our goal of gold in Paris.”

Following the Final Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regatta, the excitement continues in Lucerne with World Cup II action from May 24th to 26th. This regatta offers a final opportunity for the Women’s Eight and Lightweight Women’s Double to gain valuable race experience with only 70 days  until the start of the Olympic Games.

Fueled by her victory in the Women’s Eight last quadrennial, 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist, Sydney Payne, is ready for this opportunity.

“We’ve trained relentlessly to ensure we make ourselves, and Canada, proud on the world stage.  The memories of our triumph in the Women’s Eight at the 2020 Olympics continue to resonate deeply within me, serving as a constant reminder that we have the strength to overcome any challenge that lies ahead.”

As the countdown to the Paris Olympics and Paralympics continues, the athletes are acutely aware that every stroke, every race, brings them closer to their ultimate goal. The Olympics and Paralympics represent the pinnacle of their journeys, the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. We are wishing the entire team best of luck!

HOW TO FOLLOW RACING:

Follow all the action at: www.worldrowing.com
View the Preliminary Schedule of Events HERE
List of Full Crew Entries Available HERE

FINAL OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC QUALIFICATION REGATTA

Men’s Coxed Eight (M8+)
Curtis Ames – Calgary Rowing Club
Terek Been – Montreal Rowing Club
Will Crothers – Kingston Rowing Club
Joel Cullen – University of British Columbia / University of Washington
Gavin Stone – Queen’s University Rowing Club / Island Lake Rowing Club
Jack Walkey – Claremont Sports Institute / University of Washington
Jakub Buczek – St. Catharines Rowing Club
Ryan Clegg – Western University Rowing Club
Laura Court (coxswain) – St. Catharines Rowing Club

Spares
Daniel De Groot – St. Catharines Rowing Club
Steven Rosts – Ridley Graduate Boat Club

Women’s Quadruple Sculls (W4x)
Katie Clark – University of British Columbia Rowing Club
Marilou Duvernay-Tardif – Knowlton Rowing Club
Shannon Kennedy – London Western Rowing Club
Carling Zeeman – Sudbury Rowing Club

Spare
Grace VandenBroek – Peterborough Rowing Club / Trent University

PR1 Women’s Single Sculls (PR1 W1x)
Christa Akins – Vernon Rowing and Dragon Boat Club / Victoria City Rowing Club

 WORLD CUP 2 TEAM

 Lightweight Women’s Double (LW2x)
Jill Moffatt – Western University Rowing Club
Jennifer Casson – Kingston Rowing Club

 Women’s Coxed Eight (W8+)
Abby Dent – Kenora Rowing Club / University of Michigan
Caileigh Filmer – University of Victoria Rowing Club
Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski – Club d’Aviron Knowlton
Kristen Kit (cox) – University of British Columbia / St. Catharines Rowing Club
Maya Meschkuleit – Don Rowing Club / Yale University
Jessica Sevick – University of British Columbia / Calgary Rowing Club
Sydney Payne – Brentwood College Rowing Club
Kristina Walker – Kingston Rowing Club / University of British Columbia Rowing Club
Avalon Wasteneys – University of Victoria Rowing Club

Spares
Cassidy Deane – Kingston Rowing Club
Kristen Siermachesky – Brockville Rowing Club

 Coaches
Lauren Fisher (Women’s Quad)
Jeremy Ivey (Women’s Lightweight Double)
Maksym Kepskyy (Men’s Eight)
Tom Morris (Women’s Eight)

Canadian Umpires
Philippe Colas

Colleen Coderre
RCA Communications Lead
coderre@rowingcanada.org

Susanne Wereley
RCA Communications Manager
s.wereley@rowingcanada.org