September 1, 2019 – Linz-Ottensheim, Austria
IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Canada wrapped up the World Rowing Championships today with a big boat qualified for Tokyo 2020 and top 6 in three Olympic events. 

The women’s eight secured a berth for Tokyo 2020 with a 4^th place finish (6:03.04) in the hotly contested battle against New Zealand, Australia and the United States. Top five boats secured their spot for Tokyo with Great Britain earning the fifth spot.

The Canadian women’s eight crew includes Lisa Roman (Langley, BC), Nicole Hare (Calgary, AB), Christine Roper (Ottawa, ON), Susanne Grainger (London, ON), Hillary Janssens (Cloverdale, BC) and Caileigh Filmer (Victoria, BC), Avalon Wasteneys (Campbell River, BC), Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski (Calgary, AB), and coxswain Kristen Kit (St. Catharines, ON).

The women’s double A Final featured Canada’s Andrea Proske (Langley, BC) and Gabrielle Smith (Unionville, ON) finishing 0.63 seconds behind the Netherlands in 4^th place. New Zealand and Romania finished 1^st and 2^nd respectively, with all crews previously qualifying their boats for Tokyo.

“The result was really tight. We executed our plan well so you can’t be disappointed in that,” said Smith. It is obviously frustrating to be that close but Olympic qualification was definitely a highlight this week. It’s going to fuel a pretty good winter of training.”

Rio Olympian Carling Zeeman (Cambridge, ON) raced against the world’s top, finishing 6^th place (7:29.70), and proudly securing a berth for Canada in the A/B semi-finals in the women’s single.

“It’s a stepping stone,” explains Zeeman. “The Olympics are obviously the goal. I’m sixth in the world – not exactly where I want to be, but it gets me to the next step. I feel pride in that accomplishment.”

The men’s eight raced their B Final this morning, crossing the line in 2^nd (5:42.09) ahead of Italy and Russia. The crew of Will Crothers (Kingston, ON), Mackenzie Copp (London, ON), Taylor Perry (Ancaster, ON), Gavin Stone (Brampton, ON), Benjamin De Wit (Port Alice, BC), Martin Barakso (Nanaimo, BC), Cody Bailey (St. Mary’s, ON) Jakub Buczek (Burnaby, BC) and coxswain Lesley Thompson-Willie (London, ON) finished 8^th overall at this event.

Matt Buie (Duntroon, ON) and Trevor Jones (Lakefield, ON) contested the C Final in the Men’s Double finishing 2^nd (6:23.64) in the C Final and 14^th overall.

Loren Pearson (Kamloops, BC) finished 6th in the PR1 Men’s Single finishing 18^th overall in his first international regatta.

Canada takes home a total of three 2019 World Rowing Championship medals and six boats confirmed for Tokyo 2020. Subject to 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Selection Camp invitations, Canada may consider seeking additional qualification spots, in May 2020, during the final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland and the Final Paralympic Qualification Regatta in Gavirate, Italy.

Photos of Team Canada (copyright Rowing Canada Aviron) can be viewed here.

The 2019 World Rowing Championships Qualification System for Tokyo 2020 can be found here.

Canadian Crews – World Rowing Championships

PR2 Men’s Single
Jeremy Hall	Edmonton Rowing Club
PR2 Mixed Double
Jeremy Hall	Edmonton Rowing Club
Jessye Brockway	Gorge Rowing Club
PR3 Men’s Pair
Andrew Todd	North Star Rowing Club
Kyle Fredrickson	University of Victoria Rowing Club
PR1 Men’s Single
Loren Pearson	Victoria City Rowing Club
Women’s Eight
Lisa Roman	Middlesex-Western Rowing Club
Susanne Grainger	London Rowing Club
Nicole Hare	Calgary Rowing Club
Avalon Wasteneys	University of Victoria Rowing Club
Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski	Calgary Rowing Club
Hillary Janssens	University of British Columbia Rowing Club
Christine Roper	Ottawa Rowing Club
Caileigh Filmer	University of Victoria Rowing Club
Kristen Kit (coxswain)	University of British Columbia Rowing Club/St. Catharines Rowing Club
Women’s Pair
Hillary Janssens	University of British Columbia Rowing Club
Caileigh Filmer	University of Victoria Rowing Club
Women’s Four
Madison Mailey	Burnaby Lake Rowing Club
Jennifer Martins	Western University Rowing Club
Stephanie Grauer	Burnaby Lake Rowing Club
Sydney Payne	Brentwood College Rowing Club
Women’s Double
Andrea Proske	Victoria City Rowing Club
Gabrielle Smith	Knowlton Rowing Club
Lightweight Women’s Double
Jill Moffatt	Western University Rowing Club
Jennifer Casson	Kingston Rowing Club
Lightweight Women’s Single
Ellen Gleadow	Burnaby Lake Rowing Club
Women’s Single
Carling Zeeman	Sudbury Rowing Club
Spares
Kristin Bauder	Middlesex-Western Rowing Club
Morgan Rosts	Ridley Graduate Boat Club
Rebecca Zimmerman	University of Victoria Rowing Club
Laura Court	St. Catharines Rowing Club
Men’s Pair
Conlin McCabe	Brockville Rowing Club
Kai Langerfeld	University of Victoria Rowing Club
Men’s Eight
Benjamin de Wit	University of British Columbia Rowing Club
Cody Bailey	MicMac Aquatic Center
Gavin Stone	Queen’s University Rowing Club
Jakub Buczek	Burnaby Lake Rowing Club
Mackenzie Copp	Western University Rowing Club
Martin Barakso	Brentwood College Rowing Club
Taylor Perry	Leander Boat Club
Will Crothers	Kingston Rowing Club
Lesley Thompson-Willie (coxswain)	London Rowing Club
Men’s Double
Matthew Buie	St. Catharines Rowing Club
Trevor Jones	Peterborough Rowing Club
Lightweight Men’s Double
Maxwell Lattimer	University of British Columbia Rowing Club
Patrick Keane	Victoria City Rowing Club
Lightweight Men’s Single
Aaron Lattimer	University of British Columbia Rowing Club
Spares
David De Groot	Brock University Rowing Club
Tim Schrijver	Brock University Rowing Club

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For more information:
Colleen Coderre
RCA Communications
comm@rowingcanada.org