New home, new ambition; United States men's crew

After the 2012 Olympic Games, US Rowing brought in two new head coaches for the men. They hired two former United States national team members; two-time Olympic medallist Bryan Volpenhein and World Championship medallist Luke McGee. Success arrived for the men’s team in the form of gold medals at the 2013 World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne (SUI) in the men’s eight and four. This was followed by bronze medals in the eight and four at the 2013 World Rowing Championships in Chungju, Korea.

The training atmosphere, fostered by Volpenhein and McGee, can be described simply as competitive. Drawing on combined experience, the two coaches have set up a world class training centre for the men in Princeton.

“Our coaching staff does a really good job at helping us improve and excel as athletes while competing against each other,” says rower Mike Gennaro. Gennaro raced in the men’s eight and four at the 2014 World Rowing Cup II in Aiguebelette (FRA) where he earned a gold and bronze medal respectively.

The rowers of the Volpenhein-McGee programme, which produces the eight and four, train together year round. There are no set crews, so the athletes change partnerships when rowing on the water, rotating through pairs, fours and eights. “The coaches will switch guys from boat to boat,” says coxswain of the men’s eight, Zachary Vlahos. “There are lots of moving parts throughout the year. We are really just one big team.”

The athletes were quick to sing praises of the environment at their training centre. “I think that when you compete against each other, it can turn negative pretty quickly. Our coaches, as well as the other athletes, do a really good job of leaving it on water. When practice is over, it’s over. No one holds grudges,” says Gennaro.

Although the men’s team has a different practice schedule and training programme from the women, there is a certain sense of unity at races. Vlahos says, “We train with them (the women) all year long in Princeton and then we come to a regatta like this and it really feels like Team America.” The support and unity fostered at Princeton’s Lake Mercer has already been evident this year with the World Rowing Cup results for the team in Aiguebelette.  

Similar to other rowing nations, United States rowers are given some basic funding through the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). Most members of the men’s programme manage a balancing act, working a few hours per week at odd jobs to help with finances. Vlahos works part-time as a taxi ‘Uber’ driver, while Henrik Rummel of the men’s four impressively maintains a full-time job.   “You can survive with the basics,” says Rummel. “The USOC provides us with enough money for rent and food. Everyone on the team (puts) in a few hours per week to fill the gap.”

With both the USA men’s and women’s eights winning at the World Rowing Cup in Aiguebelette, it can be argued that the Princeton Training centre is a hub for rowing excellence. The World Rowing Championships will be their next big test.  

Copy thanks to Kristen Kit