Rowing Canada has named Laryssa Biesenthal of Walkerton, Ont. to its Olympic coaching team for 2004.
Biesenthal, who most recently coached at the 2003 Pan Am Games, will be in charge of the lightweight women's double, the only event open to lightweight women at the Olympic Games. Several rowers are still competing to be part of the double, which was qualified for the Olympics based on results at the 2003 Worlds.
"Laryssa was a successful sculler and Olympian, and we are very excited to have her as part of the coaching staff," said Brian Richardson, Canadian National Rowing Team head coach. "She has worked very hard at the NCI (National Coaching Institute in Victoria) and has had much success as a coach in the last couple of years, as well as her enormous amount of experience as an athlete."
Biesenthal, 32, was a member of the 1996 and 2000 Olympic rowing teams, winning a bronze medal in each Games. Since retiring from the National Team, she has coached at the Under-23 World Regatta, the Commonwealth Regatta, the World University Games and the Pan American Games, guiding the rowers to several medals at these events.
Biesenthal, who is married to rower Iain Brambell, will be based at Rowing Canada's Victoria training centre. Rowing s Olympic training camp officially began this week at Elk Lake in Victoria.
Canada has qualified a total of seven boats for the 2004 Olympic regatta, which will be held at Schinias Rowing and Canoeing Centre (Aug. 14 to 22, 2004).