Canada’s rowing program is confident and re-energized heading into the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics with 10 boats in the running
Canada's Caileigh Filmer, left, and Hillary Janssens race in the final of the Women's Pair event at the World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, on Sept. 15, 2018.
Some of the emotionally drained athletes worried openly about the program’s future in the immediate aftermath of their shambolic showing, keenly aware what it could mean after OTP provided almost $17.5 million – more than any other summer sport – to Rowing Canada in the quadrennial between London and Rio.
Five years after the disaster at Lagoa Stadium, instead of the usual four thanks to COVID-19, the doom and gloom surrounding the program has lifted, at least for now. Other medal contenders on the women’s side include Jessica Sevick of Strathmore, Alta., and Gabrielle Smith of Unionville, Ont., in double sculls; Carling Zeeman of Cambridge, Ont., in single sculls; and the women’s eight.
A number of crews haven’t raced competitively since 2019 because of the coronavirus pandemic. There’s been plenty of training among the athletes, who basically walled themselves off from the outside world and put their lives on hold for an extra year in order to safely prepare for the Games, but it’s difficult to know how the group will fare against adversaries they haven’t stared down in nearly 24 months.
The program has consolidated its training to a central hub on Vancouver Island instead of the previous setup that saw one facility in B.C. and another in Ontario.
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