Season Debut for Canada, United States and Australia

Lucerne, Switzerland is gearing up to deliver Zurich Rowing World Cup number two with more rowing nations making their international season debut.

The USA debuts at Lucerne for 2002
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The United States is sending a mixture of national team veterans and first time members and according to communications director, Brett Johnson, it is a more developed team than last year. The women’s quad is intact from 2001 and the men’s eight contains four Olympians. The women’s pair is a new combination and was decided after their win at the second national selection regatta. Two boats are entered in the women’s lightweight double. All four rowers have been on a number of national teams and in their selection race only a tenth of a second separated them.

Some of the US athletes will have an additional incentive to do well. The Lucerne World Cup is to be used as a qualifying regatta for the World Championships in September. Small boat crews must finish in the top six to earn a place in the Championships.

Canada is sending their top heavyweight men and lightweight crews to Lucerne. Two of the crews recently competed at Henley with the men’s eight winning against a top German crew and the lightweight men’s four coming second only to World Cup champions, Denmark. A lightweight men’s and women’s double are also competing.

Although this is the first international race of the season for these crews, head coach, Brian Richardson is confident. The group has been racing against the clock and each other and have met locally set high standards.

The Canadian heavyweight women will make their first international appearance at Munich next month.

Australia is sending a large squad of 55 athletes including the 2001 World Champion women’s eight. Six of the crew are the same as last year. Victoria Roberts, Australian Women’s Team Captain said, ?we are ready to take on the world and defend our World Championship title.? A number of the crew race twice; competing in the women’s pair and the women’s four.

The men’s pair of Drew Ginn and James Tomkins, have returned after Ginn’s recovery in 2001 from a back injury. Between them they have many years of experience, including being the 1999 World Champions in the pair and prior to that as part of the oarsome foursome. 

Single sculler, Duncan Free, is also starting his international season at Lucerne. He came 4^th in 2001 and will be facing many of the same competitors this year.