Rowing coaches gather in Rio

The spotlight will be on New Zealand coach Gary Hay who has come through a stellar year as coach of 2014 World Champions Emma Twigg (women’s single sculls), Julia Edward and Sophie MacKenzie (lightweight women’s double sculls) and bronze medallists Rebecca Scown and Louise Trappitt (women’s pair).

In recent years Hay has predominantly coached women and the conference will bring together six prominent coaches of women’s crews to discuss, ‘what makes a successful coach of women – the myth and the reality.’ This panel will include French coach Christine Gosse,  Dutch coach Josy Verdonkschot, Irish high performance manager, Morten Espersen amongst others.

Successful Olympic coach, Mike Spracklen, now coaching the Russian men’s sweep squad, will join with New Zealand’s strength and conditioning expert, Trent Lawton to look at the different views of getting the best out of boat training. Spracklen’s most recent success was a silver for the Canadian men’s eight at the London Olympic Games, while Lawton works with the New Zealand elite rowing squad on strength and conditioning.

Talent identification will be discussed by Canadian academic, Joseph Baker with Chuck McDiarmid, also of Canada, talking about the practical aspects of developing talent.

The Rio location has presented the opportunity for participants to visit the Rio 2016 Olympic Regatta Course and Olympic Village. During the conference Rio 2016 Rowing Competition Manager Colleen Orsmond will be joined by FISA President, Jean-Christophe Rolland and FISA Executive Director, Matt Smith to answer questions about the Rio Olympic Games.

The Gala Dinner will be a highlight of the conference with the presentation of the 2014 World Rowing Awards. This includes the World Rowing Coach of the Year along with the Male, Female and Para-rowing Crews of the Year and the award for Distinguished Service to Rowing.

Following the conference the World Rowing website will make available details of some of the presentations.