World Rowing e-Magazine, Autumn/Winter 2005

Over the 2005 season you would have had to lock yourself away in non-rowing solitude not to notice the
stand-out performances of these junior and under 23 rowers who not only pushed the edge of success at
their level but some also pushed their way into the senior level. Will these athletes be the rowing names of the
Beijing Olympiad?

M8+, United States

The ability for the United States to put

together a winning men’s eight is undeniable. With Athens Olympic gold medal coach Mike Teti still at the helm and a system that thrives off outstanding university eights, Teti is bound to have a great group to work with. Mixed into this the United States leaves the 2005 season holding the junior (photo) and senior World Rowing Championships titles in the eight. Watch out for names like Steve Coppola who at the age of 21 already has two World Champion medals and Neil Stanga (five seat) and Henrik Rummel (three seat), now junior champions.

02
M1x, The Netherlands
Stepping up a level in the men’s single, Sjoerd Hamburger has the
whole of the Netherlands under his spell after he completely
dominated the final of the World Rowing Under 23 Championships
this year. Hamburger then went on to finish a credible 7th at the
senior World Rowing Championships.

03
W4x, Germany
Stephanie Schiller (stroke) joined the cream of German sculling
when she became the youngest member of the women’s quad only
one year after being a junior. This fast track to the top earned
Stephanie a World Championship silver medal at Gifu.

04
LM1x, Great Britain
Cool and confident, 19-year-old lightweight single sculler,
Zac Purchase of Great Britain followed the Sjoerd Hamburger
example and won the World Rowing Under 23 Championships
with open water, then went on to win silver at the World Rowing
Championships. All Zac needs now is a doubles partner to take him
to the Beijing start line.

W1x, New Zealand

Quality not quantity. That’s the New Zealand theme and Emma Twigg is another example of New Zealand quality. Emma discovered her true worth in the single winning the junior title in commanding style.