BC athletes hit the start line internationally

BC athletes hit the start line internationally

This Summer, many of BC’s top athletes have put on the Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) uniform to represent the country at start lines internationally.

To kick off the international racing season, 3 BC athletes represented Canada at the FISU Summer World University Games hosted in Germany. This included Pepper Howe (University of Victoria), Madelyn Vandermeer (University of British Columbia), and Connor Atridge (from Coquitlam, BC – representing Cambridge University).

From July 15-16th, RCA had a team of 18 athletes representing Canada at the inaugural International Challenge in Michigan, USA. This team included 3 athletes from BC – William Jacques (Vancouver College Rowing), Willem De Vries (Vancouver College Rowing), and Bianca Batoni (St. Michaels University School Rowing). RCA reached the podium with a Gold medal in the Womens 4x, Gold medal in the Mens 4x, Silver medal in the Mixed 8+, and a Bronze medal in the Mens 2x.

For the U23 World Championships in Poland, July 23-27th, RCA’s team included 10 athletes from BC rowing organizations – Oscar Wostenholme (UBC), Robert Walsh (UBC), Connor Bohlmann (Vancouver College Rowing), Adrian Breen (UBC), Daniel Mielecki (UVIC), Matteo Banducci (Vancouver Rowing Club), Annika Goodwyn (Burnaby Lake Rowing Club), Gabriella Worobec (UBC), Ellexi Fulton (Shawnigan Lake Rowing), and Mira Calder (Victoria City Rowing Club). BC coach, Katie Bahain-Steenman (RCA) is one of the coaches supporting the team. The U23 Womens 8+ stood on the podium to accept Bronze medals, while the U23 Womens 2- narrowly missed the podium with a very close 4th place.

On August 6-10th, 12 BC athletes and coaches/managers represented Canada at the U19 World Championships. Congratulations to BC athletes Ciana Della Siega (Victoria City Rowing Club), Novella Rusman (Brentwood College), Lucy Hallett (Victoria City Rowing Club/BC NextGen Performance Center), William Hawkins (Brentwood College), Bennett Maijer (St. George’s School), Patrick Boyle (Vancouver College Rowing), and Jack Harris (Thunder Rowing), and to coaches/managers Marc Addison (Vancouver College Rowing), David Calder (Brentwood College), Miki Chantler (Victoria City Rowing Club), Ava Paul (Victoria City Rowing Club), and Katie Bahain-Steenman (RCA). BC’s own Ciana and Novella secured the Bronze medal in the Womens 2-.

Just as the U19 World Championships were wrapping up, Canada’s Junior Pan American Games team started their August 9-23rd regatta. BC rowers Firinne Rolfe (St. Michaels University School), Alessandra Tuttle (Shawnigan Lake School), Anneke Goodwyn (Burnaby Lake Rowing Club), Bathany Nordstrom (Victoria City Rowing Club/University of Victoria) were selected to race on this team. The team secured a Silver in the Women’s 8+, Bronze in the Women’s 2x, Bronze in the Womens 2- and Bronze in the Women’s 4-.

Congratulations to all of these athletes on their rowing accomplishments this Summer!

All photo credits: Rowing Canada Aviron