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Olympic and Paralympic Selection: 101

May 06, 2012

How the Crews are Chosen: Updated 5/6/12

OLYMPIC GAMES: WOMEN

Qualified Boats

Women’s Pair – The winning crew at the first National Selection Regatta March 15-17 (Elle Logan and Erin Cafaro) earned the right to go to Europe and win an automatic berth to the Olympic team by finishing in the top four at either of the first two world cup stops. Logan and Cafaro finished second in Belgrade at World Cup I on May 6, and now have until May 30 to accept their berth to the 2012 Olympic team. Should they decline, the boat class will be included in the U.S. Qualified Small Boat Olympic Trials June 11-14 in West Windsor, N.J.

Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls – The winner of the second National Selection Regatta April 9-12 (Julie Nichols and Kristin Hedstrom) earned the right to go to Europe and attempt to win an automatic berth to the Olympic team by finishing in the top four at either of the first two world cup stops. The crew finished sixth at the first world cup in Belgrade on May 6, and will have another opportunity at the second world cup. Should the crew not qualify, the boat class will be included in the U.S. Qualified Small Boat Olympic Trials June 11-14 in West Windsor, N.J.

Women’s Quadruple Sculls – Selection will come from training camp performance and lineup evaluations following the Lucerne World Rowing Cup stop in May. Testing its speed at the 2012 Samsung World Rowing Cup 1, the U.S. finished fourth. Naming date is June 22, 2012.

Women’s Eight – Selections will come from training camp performance, results of the first National Selection Regatta pairs racing, and lineup evaluations following the Lucerne World Rowing Cup stop in May. Naming date is June 22, 2012.

Non-Qualified Boats

Women’s Single Sculls – The winner of the 2012 Non-Qualified Small Boat Olympic Trials April 9-12 (Gevvie Stone) will race at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta May 20-23 in Lucerne, Switzerland. If she places in the top three, she will represent the United States in London. If the boat does not qualify, the U.S. will not have an entry in the women’s single sculls event at the Olympics.

Women’s Double Sculls – The winning crew at the 2012 Non-Qualified Small Boat Olympic Trials April 9-12 (Margot Shumway and Sarah Trowbridge) will go to the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta May 20-23 in Lucerne, Switzerland. If the crew places in the top two, the athletes will be the crew that represents the United States in London. If it does not qualify, the U.S. will not have an entry in the women’s double event.

OLYMPIC GAMES: MEN

Qualified Boats

Men’s Single Sculls – The winner of the first National Selection Regatta March 15-17 (Ken Jurkowski) earned the right to go to Europe and win an automatic berth to the team by finishing in the top four at either of the first two world cup stops. Jurkowski finished 12th at the first world cup, and will have another opportunity at the second world cup. Should he not qualify, the boat class will be included in the U.S. Qualified Small Boat Olympic Trials June 11-14 in West Windsor, N.J.

Men’s Pair – The winning crew at the first National Selection Regatta March 15-17 (Charlie Cole and Glenn Ochal) earned the right to go to Europe and win an automatic berth to the team by finishing in the top four of either of the first two world cup stops. Should those athletes not qualify, the boat class will be included in the U.S. Qualified Small Boat Olympic Trials June 11-14 in West Windsor, N.J.

Men’s Four – Selection will come from training camp performance, results of the first National Selection Regatta pairs racing and lineup evaluations following the Lucerne World Cup stop in May. Naming date is June 22, 2012.

Men’s Quadruple Sculls – Selection will come from training camp performance and lineup evaluations following the Lucerne World Cup stop in May. Naming date is June 22, 2012.

Non-Qualified Boats

Men’s Double Sculls – The winners of the 2012 Non-Qualified Small Boat Olympic Trials April 9-12 (Warren Anderson and Sam Stitt) will go to the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland May 20-23. If the boat places in the top two, the athletes will be the crew that represents the United States in London. If the boat does not qualify, the U.S. will not have an entry in the men’s double sculls event.

Men’s Lightweight Double Sculls – The winners of the 2012 Non-Qualified Small Boat Olympic Trials April 9-12 (Will Daly and Andrew Campbell) will go to the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta May 20-23 in Lucerne, Switzerland. If the boat places in the top two, the athletes will be the crew that represents the United States in London. If the boat does not qualify, the U.S. will not have an entry in the lightweight men’s double sculls event.

Lightweight Men’s Four – The crew of Robin Prendes (Miami, Fla.), Nick LaCava (Weston, Conn.), Will Newell (Weston, Mass.) and Anthony Fahden (Lafayette, Calif.) were named May 1. The boat will compete at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta May 20-23 in Lucerne, Switzerland. If the crew places in the top two, those athletes will represent the United States in London. If the boat does not qualify, the U.S. will not have an entry in the lightweight men’s four event.

Men’s Eight – The crew of coxswain Zach Vlahos (Piedmont, Calif.), Grant James (DeKalb, Ill.), David Banks (Potomac, Md.), Steve Kasprzyk (Cinnaminson, N.J.), Jake Cornelius (Brooktondale, N.Y.), Brett Newlin (Riverton, Wyo.), Ross James (DeKalb, Ill.), Will Miller (Duxbury, Mass.) and Giuseppe Lanzone (Annandale, Va.) was named May 1. It will compete at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta May 20-23 in Lucerne, Switzerland. If the crew wins, those nine athletes will represent the United States in London. If the boat does not qualify, the U.S. will not have an entry in the men’s eight event.

PARALYMPIC GAMES

Qualified Boats

Men’s Arms-Only Single Sculls – Ron Harvey won the 2012 Paralympic Trials April 9-12 and will represent the United States in London, pending USOC approval.

Legs, Trunk and Arms Four with Coxswain – Selection will come from training camp performance (May 28-June 10) and lineup evaluations. The crew will be named June 11.

Non-Qualified Boats

Women’s Arms-Only Single Sculls – The winner of the 2012 Non-Qualified Paralympic Trials March 30 (Dana Fink) earned the right to race at the Final Paralympic Qualification Regatta May 4-6 in Belgrade, Serbia. Fink did not finish in the top two, therefore, the U.S. will not have an entry in the event in London.

Trunk and Arms Mixed Double Sculls – The winner of the Non-Qualified Paralympic Trials March 30 (Rob Jones and Oksana Masters) earned the right to race at the Final Paralympic Qualification Regatta May 4-6 in Belgrade, Serbia. The crew won the event, and will now represent the United States in London, pending USOC approval.

Allison Frederick

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