Each race served as proof that master rowing is a sport for dedicated, competitive individuals of all ages.

The oldest competitor was the ultimate poster child of rowing’s all encompassing nature at the four-day regatta.

The 89-year-old Saugatuck Rowing Club member Paul Green has 68 more years of life experience than the youngest eligible masters athletes. He has also been rowing significantly longer than many of them have been alive.

“I started rowing 30 or 40 years ago when living on the beach in Long Island,” said Green.

The past few days, Green has been a walking poster for his own foundation, Nevah Surrender to Parkinson’s.

 While moseying around the course at Lake Quinsigamond State Park, his black t-shirt bearing the Winston Churchill quotation, “Nevah, nevah, nevah surrendah” summarizes his ove

rall goal.

Green has lived through some of the most famous historic events and intends to live through many more.
In the 1940s, he attended former rowing powerhouse Brown University. At the time, rowing was suspended due to World War II. As a result, Green put his aspirations of participating in the sport on hold until finishing his degree and a three-year stint as an Ensign in the United States Navy in the Pacific Theater.    

The World War II Veteran has since raised nine children, held a career in magazine publishing, celebrated the birth of 22 grandchildren and maintained a passion for rowing.

The role of rowing in Green’s life transformed into more than just a passion after his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease about 20 years ago.

The sport has been an integral part of his preferred disease management plan.

“I go out on the water just about everyday, and in the winter, I erg and do push-ups and sit-ups for my strength,” said Green.

As his foundation’s website explains, Green regularly exercises and actively works to encourage individuals to live to the fullest after a Parkinson’s diagnosis.

“It surprises people that I still row,” said Green. “It gives me credibility with the other people I speak to about Parkinson’s.”

He has come up with several ways, in addition to rowing, to battle the disease over the past two decades.

Some of his strategies for getting the most out of his body are aerobic exercise, socializing with others and neurobics (exercise of the brain), including learning Japanese.

“Paul is an amazing example of taking on Parkinson’s at an alternative and non-medicinal level,” said Susan Schmidt, a fellow Saugatuck rower. “You should see the amount of medicine he takes. It is far less than many other Parkinson’s patients and many people wouldn’t live at the same level.”

The independent and active masters rower made it his goal to make it a full 1,000 meters in the men’s J single sculls category this year.

He succeeded.

“It was harder than I thought it would be with the wind,” said Green. “But once I got to the half way mark, I new I could do it. I couldn’t let the club down.”

Even though the race was not easy, ask Green when he plans to stop rowing and he gives an effortless response.

“Nevah.”

For a complete race schedule, updates on the regatta and links to results (as available), visit http://www.usrowing.org/Events/MastersNationals.aspx.

Finals can be viewed live each day beginning Thursday, August 9, at http://www.ustream.tv/usrowing.

Press coverage of the event will be available at http://www.usrowing.org/Pressbox/Inteventcoverage/12MasterNationalsCoverage.aspx.

The 2012 USRowing Masters National Championships is the first of two masters’ championship regattas USRowing will host over the next two months. The first-ever USRowing Masters National Head Race Championship will be held September 16 on the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio. Currently home to the Head of the Cuyahoga, the 4,800-meter course involves strategy, curves, and fun. In addition to five major river turns (including an S-bend), gorgeous views of the Cleveland skyline are situated throughout the course. To register, visit www.regattacentral.com.

About USRowing

USRowing is a nonprofit organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States. USRowing’s official suppliers include Boathouse Sports, Vespoli, WinTech, Filippi, Croker Oars, Rudy Project, Concept2, Nielsen Kellerman, PowerHTV and Ludus Tours. USRowing also receives generous support from the National Rowing Foundation and its corporate sponsors and partners ANXeBusiness Corp, Voxer, EZ Dock, EMCVenues and The Perfect SNAQUE. For more information, visit www.usrowing.org. USRowing has created The Row to London to engage sponsors leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games, with proceeds going to help ensure the U.S. team’s success. Opportunities also exist to partner with America Rows – supporting diversity initiatives and adaptive programs. For more information, please contact Beth Kohl at beth@usrowing.org.