The Next Big Stage – Plovdiv, Bulgaria

August 13, 2012

PLOVDIV, Bulgaria – With the 2012 London Olympics completed, the world stage is being handed over to the remaining two teams yet to compete internationally this summer.

Beginning Wednesday, some 1,000 athletes from 57 countries will compete in the 2012 World Rowing Senior and Junior Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, a combined event held only during an Olympic year.

Between the two levels there are 20 boats classes, including 13 junior and seven senior classes not contested at the Olympic Games, that will compete for world titles Aug. 15-19. The United States will field entries in all events.

The lightweight men’s senior sculls has entries from 26 countries. Rowing for the United States is Andrew Campbell (New Canaan, Conn.). Campbell finished fourth in the event last year.

Defending world champion, Henrik Stephansen of Denmark is entered in the field. Stephansen raced in London, where he finished 13th overall by winning the C final. Also competing is last year’s silver medalist Pietro Ruta. Ruta rowed in London in the lightweight double and finished seventh overall.

Rowing in the lightweight women’s single is Ursula Grobler (Pretoria, South Africa). Grobler also finished fourth last year. Twenty-three countries have entries in the event including Brazil’s reigning world champion Fabiana Beltrame. Also entered is Alexandra Tsiavou of Greece, who won a bronze medal in London in the lightweight women’s double.

Of the 42 junior athletes on the team, nine return from the squad that took back one gold medal and one bronze from the 2011 World Rowing Junior Championships in Eton Dorney, England. The U.S. won gold in the women’s junior four and bronze in the women’s junior eight.
 
Returning from last year are Sam Helms (Snohomish, Wash), who was in the men’s junior four with coxswain that finished eighth, Patrick Eble (Fort Washington, Pa.), who rowed in the junior men’s eight that finished fifth, Rosie Grinalds (Southport, Conn.) who was in the women’s pair that finished sixth, Kendall Chase (Evergreen, Ohio), Mia Croonquist (Vashon, Wash), Deirdre Fitzpatrick (Cheshire, Conn.), MacKenzi Sherman (Los Alamitos, Calif.), Georgia Ratcliff (Vienna, Va.), who was in the junior women’s eight that finished third and Eliza Spilsbury (Centerville, Mass.).

Racing will begin with heats Wednesday afternoon. Repechage and quarterfinal racing will begin Thursday.

For complete event coverage, schedules and results, visit http://www.usrowing.org/Pressbox/12SrJrWorldsChampions.aspx
 
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.

Ed Moran

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