Rowing Canada Aviron completed its Annual General Meeting and 2013 conference this past weekend in Vancouver at the Radisson Airport Hotel.
Highlights included presentations by national coaches, top sports scientists and guest presenter John Herdman, coach of the 2012 bronze medal women's Olympic soccer team. The nearby Richmond Oval played host to practical sessions designed to help coaches at the grassroots level improve skills and increase participation.
?Our goal to become one of the world's leading rowing nations in terms of medal performances at World Championships, Paralympic Games and Olympic Games can only be accomplished by the contributions of all of us in the coaching community,? said Peter Cookson, Rowing Canada Aviron High Performance Director.
The conference was capped off by the annual awards dinner. Co-hosts Darcy Marquardt and Will Crothers, both 2012 Olympic silver medalists, announced the awards and special guests included 2012 Olympians, the Honourable Bal Gosal (Minister of State, Sport) and several past Olympic medalists.
"It was a great evening celebrating our sport," said Dr. Michael F. Murphy, RCA President. "I'm always pleased to see people from all aspects of our sport come out to celebrate the best athletes, coaches, and officials. Congratulations to all who were recognized this past weekend."
Dr. Murphy presented the President?s Award to Rick Crooker and eight-time Olympian Lesley Thompson-Willie.
In addition to the 2012 rowing medalists, Paralympians and distinguished past rowers who have already received the Queen?s Jubilee Medal, coaches Volker Nolte and Al Morrow were presented the medal at the Awards Banquet by the Minister on behalf of the Coaching Association of Canada.
A full list of award winners appears after the French version of this release.
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/92472789@N04/sets/72157632626463472/