The men’s eight is revered by
many countries as the pinnacle
boat. Currently residing side-by-
side are the top two eights in the
world. Canada holds World
Champion status and the United
States sit in second place. Each
keeps a cautious eye on the other.
Both possess more similarities
than they may care to admit.
The United States were in this position
leading up to the 2000 Olympics – they
failed to win a medal at Sydney. The
Canadians are in the same position for
Athens. Hoskins says “The cure is:
‘In Mike we trust.’”
Photo: © Joel Rogers
term “priority” “I arrange the rowers into
the boat most suited to their physical
capabilities,” says Spracklen. “In 2003
the eight and the coxless four were of
equal standard.” At present both coaches
are in full-time training camps working
with a squad of athletes. Final boat line-ups will not be determined until closer to
the Olympic Games. Teti has 20 athletes
in the mix for the chosen eight while
Spracklen works with 18 who will also
make up Canada’s four and pair. But
both coaches stress the importance of
putting the fastest boats together whether
it’s the eight, four or pair.
Training programmes overlap in
similarities with both coaches running
a comparable number of sessions per
week. Off the water training both sides
of the border includes weights and
ergometers with the Canadians throwing
in some ultimate frisbee games for
variety and sprint development. Teti has
two evaluation sessions per week using
race pieces that vary in distance from
two to nine kilometres. The two Mikes
use small boat rowing extensively and at
present both squads are based in training
camps on North America’s west coast –
Victoria, B.C. for the Canadians and
San Diego for the Statesiders.
Along with similarities also come
differences. Canada’s chosen technique
has caused much discussion. Their long
lay back finish appears in contrast to the
United States’ more upright style
favoured by most coaches. Spracklen
explains that when he arrived in Canada
(from Great Britain in 2001) the longer
swing developed out of work on posture
amongst the young athletes in the squad.
Spracklen acknowledges the interest it
has generated. “It has distracted some
of the other coaches!” he says.
US coach Mike Teti / Entraîneur américain Mike Teti
United States coach Mike Teti describes
the eight as a natural progression for his
country from the university rowing system
that focuses on eights. “The eight is like
home base,” says Teti. “We have a whole
culture of that and our talent pool increases
from the many university rowers.” This
strength of rowing at the United States
university level means that many
Canadian rowers are recruited by US
universities for their rowing talent,
feeding off a strong Canadian high
school rowing structure.
“A lot of our guys went to university
down there,” says Canada’s team captain
Andrew Hoskins, counting four examples
in the current squad. “We know it’s all
about the eight in the US and we see
them as our main competition.”
Teammate Dave Calder, who has been in
the Canadian eight since Sydney, says the
priority depends on whom you ask. “From
my perspective we can prioritise all boats
and put the sluggers in the eight.”
The two camps are very much aware of
challenges from other countries. “All
crews are capable of going really fast for
one piece,” says Teti. The understated
Spracklen, who also has the World
Champion men’s four in his squad, adds,
“We will have a good eight, four and
pair for Athens.” “We’re trying to win
more medals than last time,” says Teti.
“Any colour.”
The two styles of coaching also vary
verbally. Teti is known for his use of
colourful expletives and loud manner
while mild-mannered Spracklen rarely
raises his voice. Outside of training the
Canadians have been exposing other
talents. “I was Mr. January,” says
Hoskins of their expose-nearly-all 2004
fundraising calendar. “It has given us a
bigger profile.” “We’ve even been
featured in a couple of international gay
magazines,” adds Calder. “We don’t
mind, it’s all about the bottom line.”
Meanwhile, the inter-squad moustache-growing competition by the United
States crew has upped the team’s profile
but exposed “dubious tactics” by some
of the contestants. “I’m not sure people
across America’s rowing community
realise how high the stakes are to win
this contest,” says Read.
“The curse” bonds both countries. In
recent years no men’s eight has won at the
Olympics after winning at the World
Championships in the preceding year.
Check to find out
more about the Canadian and US
progress and other Olympic team
selections in the coming months.
United State squad member Jason Read
confirms. “We are a country of eights,”
says Read. “There’s something romantic
about the fastest boat on the water.”
Mike Spracklen, Canada’s head men’s
coach acknowledges the importance put
on the eight. “It is the fastest boat and,
as it is the largest crew, it shows the
strength of a rowing programme.”
However, Spracklen prefers to avoid the
Photo: © Joel Rogers
