Rowing Canada score top Danish coaches

Roaf, Hassing and executive director Ian Moss team up

Rowing Canada Aviron today announced the appointment of two national team coaches – Bent Jensen and Carsten Hassing, both of Denmark.

Jensen, best known for coaching Denmark’s lightweight men’s four, Guldfireren, to World Champion and Olympic Champion status, will become Canada’s lightweight men’s coach. Jensen, 58, has been coaching since 1977 and most recently coached the Danish lightweight men’s four to gold at the Athens Olympics.

In Rowing Canada’s press release Jensen commented, "I’m very pleased to be coming to Canada to help the lightweight men prepare for a successful Olympics. It’s an opportunity to build on the program that has had some promising results in the past."

Canada made the finals in the lightweight four in Athens, but has not medalled in this event since 1996. The lightweight men’s quad (a non-Olympic event) picked up a bronze this year at the World Championships.

Jensen is part of an elite group who have been named Coach of the Year by the International Rowing Federation, FISA, in 1998.

Hassing and Jensen will leave Denmark for Canada

Fellow Dane, Hassing, 39, will join Canada’s women’s programme as the national coach of the senior women. Hassing has also worked for the Danish Federation for the last three Olympic cycles – qualifying crews for the finals in each Games, and has coached nine world-level medalling crews since 1993.

"It is a great challenge and opportunity for me, working together with Al Morrow (national coach – development women), to make a strong women’s team," said Hassing.
 
"I believe that the greatest contribution a sport organization can give its athletes is excellent coaching," said Rowing Canada Aviron’s High Performance Director, Alan Roaf. "The addition of Bent and Carsten to our already strong coaching staff supports Rowing Canada Aviron’s commitment to excellence."  

This brings the total number of full-time coaches dedicated to Canada’s national rowing team to six. Mike Spracklen, Al Morrow, Laryssa Biesenthal and Terry Paul will remain in their current positions.
 
Jensen and Hassing will commence their coaching duties in late March 2006.

Copy thanks to Jackie Skender ? Rowing Canada Aviron.

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