US Rowing continues diversity theme

Changing the Tide was the theme of the second annual diversity in rowing conference. Organised by US Rowing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the conference targeted urban youth.

Organiser Robert Kidd says he was very pleased with the day’s proceedings.

“Our keynote speaker was Peter Westbrook, fencer extraordinaire, Olympic medalist and former member of the United States Olympic Committee board of directors. Westbrook has created a foundation in New York that has done a fabulous job of introducing fencing to thousands of young people, of all ethnic, social and economic backgrounds.”

Westbrook's message to rowers was simple, "If I can do this for fencing, then surely you can do this for rowing!"

Westbrook was followed by the George Pocock Rowing Foundation's Julian Zimlich, who spoke of the organisational opportunities and challenges of rowing outreach.

Sessions were also run on:
(i) short-term outreach programmes
(ii) long-term outreach programmes
(iii) the outreach-experience of USA Swimming

“To our great delight, it is my understanding that the Philadelphia rowing community, under the leadership of Commodore Clete Graham of the Schuylkill Navy, will convene its own follow-up meeting later this month, to address issues of diversity within that rowing community,” says Kidd.

“This could be an historic advance of the diversity agenda, particularly because of the central role that Philadelphia plays in American rowing.”

The World Rowing team values feedback.