Rowing legends to race for Right To Play

The big names of rowing’s past are uniting for a cause and giving spectators a chance to witness their current form. Names like Canada’s Silken Laumann, Norway’s Alf Hansen, Great Britain’s Tim Foster and Dutch rowing hero Nico Rienks, to name just a few, will step into the boat again for the Right To Play Legends Race.

Resembling a who’s who of rowing superstars or a list of Thomas Keller medal winners, the former best in the world of rowing will come together on finals day at the BearingPoint Rowing World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland next month.

On 10 July 2005 at the Rotsee rowing course two 12-person boats – one of sweep rowers, one of scullers – and choc-full of former Olympic and World Champions, will race each other to raise awareness for Right To Play in the International Year of Sport and Physical Education.

Right To Play is an athlete-driven international humanitarian organisation that uses sport and play to improve the lives of the world’s most disadvantaged children. Right To Play is built on the belief that sport has the power to help create healthier children and safer communities.

Already top international athletes including Wayne Gretzky, Haile Gebrselassi, Lance Armstrong, Ian Thorpe, Michael Johnson, George Forman, Carolina Klueft, Vreni Schneider and Bruno Kernen as well as rowing celebrities, Silken Laumann, Olaf Tufte and Matthew Pinsent are actively engaged in supporting the work of Right To Play.

These legends will race in two specifically constructed boats and from the last four decades from Great Britain, the Netherlands, Canada, Norway, Germany and Switzerland.

“This is a world first,” said Barbara Keller, National Director of Right To Play and daughter of FISA’s former president, Thomas Keller. “Two 12-person boats, one sculling and one rowing, will be competing over 500 metres. A handicap will be worked out to give both teams an equal winning chance.”

Directing and supplying the specifically constructed boats is Staempfli owner Melchior Buergin. FISA’s Development Director and international coach Thor Nilsen is also involved, compiling the team arrangement. “He will be sure to come up with some exciting line-ups,” says Keller. 

Athletes’ List

Great Britain
Martin Cross, Tim Foster, Chris Baillieu

The Netherlands
Nico Rienks, Henk-Jan Zwolle, Hans Keldermann, Ronald Florijn

Canada
Silken Laumann

Norway
Rolf Thorsen, Alf Hansen

Germany
Katrin Rutschow-Stomporowski, Norbert Kesslau, Volker Grabow, Guido Grabow, Jorg Putlitz

Switzerland
Stephan Netzle, Bruno Saile, Hans-Konrad Truempler, Jorg Weinauer, Beat Schwerzmann, Ingeborg Althof-Schwerzmann, Uli Bodenmann, Melchior Burgin, Martin Studach

Read about Right To Play at www.righttoplay.com

The World Rowing team values feedback.