2008 Games in Beijing, China Are Olympic Debut for Three Rowers

BEIJING (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) August 9, 2008 -- 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.

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

It's a fantastic experience for the athletes and a real treat for the fans and supporters of our new club.

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.

MULTIMEDIA GALLERY

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