Michelle Guerette (Bristol, Conn.) and Micah Boyd (St. Paul, Minn.) have been named USRowing's 2008 Female and Male Athletes of the Year, the organization announced on Wednesday. Guerette, an eight-time national team member and two-time Olympian, won the silver medal in the women's single sculls at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The Harvard University graduate has dominated the women's single within the United States over the past four years. In 2008, she won both the first National Selection Regatta (NSR) and the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Now a two-time recipient of the award, Guerette earned her first trophy in 2005 after winning a bronze medal at the world championships. She also won bronze at the 2007 FISA World Championships. "Receiving this award for the second time, especially in an Olympic year where there were so many breakthrough performances for our team, truly is a great honor," Guerette said. "Beijing was incredible, and I will never forget the feelings I had during the race and afterward. But, the experience would not have been possible without this supportive, fearless team to train and race with. While I'm very grateful to my teammates for this recognition, I am even more thankful for their competition and friendship." Boyd, a two-time national team member and graduate of the University of Wisconsin, helped the men's eight win the bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games. A member of Penn A.C. Rowing Association, Boyd joined the USRowing Training Center program in the fall of 2007 and made an immediate impact. In April, he won the men's pair at the first NSR and then finished second in the pair at the second NSR. Boyd is a first-time recipient of the award. "It's a great achievement and honor, especially in the Olympic year where everyone is so focused on doing their best," Boyd said. "With the award being voted on by your peers, it's great to know that the other guys thought you put in your best effort. It's pretty surprising. I haven't been with the group of guys that long, just since September of 2007. It's nice to be recognized by such a great a group of veterans. It was a tough year of training and to win the award is quite amazing." The athletes and coaches from the 2008 Olympic Team selected this year's USRowing Male and Female Athletes of the Year. Guerette and Boyd will be honored on Friday, December 5, at the USRowing Annual Awards Reception in Atlantic City, N.J. Michelle Guerette (Bristol, Conn.) and Micah Boyd (St. Paul, Minn.) have been named USRowing's 2008 Female and Male Athletes of the Year, the organization announced on Wednesday.
Guerette, an eight-time national team member and two-time Olympian, won the silver medal in the women's single sculls at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The Harvard University graduate has dominated the women's single within the United States over the past four years. In 2008, she won both the first National Selection Regatta (NSR) and the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Now a two-time recipient of the award, Guerette earned her first trophy in 2005 after winning a bronze medal at the world championships. She also won bronze at the 2007 FISA World Championships.
"Receiving this award for the second time, especially in an Olympic year where there were so many breakthrough performances for our team, truly is a great honor," Guerette said. "Beijing was incredible, and I will never forget the feelings I had during the race and afterward. But, the experience would not have been possible without this supportive, fearless team to train and race with. While I'm very grateful to my teammates for this recognition, I am even more thankful for their competition and friendship."
Boyd, a two-time national team member and graduate of the University of Wisconsin, helped the men's eight win the bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games. A member of Penn A.C. Rowing Association, Boyd joined the USRowing Training Center program in the fall of 2007 and made an immediate impact. In April, he won the men's pair at the first NSR and then finished second in the pair at the second NSR. Boyd is a first-time recipient of the award.
"It's a great achievement and honor, especially in the Olympic year where everyone is so focused on doing their best," Boyd said. "With the award being voted on by your peers, it's great to know that the other guys thought you put in your best effort. It's pretty surprising. I haven't been with the group of guys that long, just since September of 2007. It's nice to be recognized by such a great a group of veterans. It was a tough year of training and to win the award is quite amazing."
The athletes and coaches from the 2008 Olympic Team selected this year's USRowing Male and Female Athletes of the Year. Guerette and Boyd will be honored on Friday, December 5, at the USRowing Annual Awards Reception in Atlantic City, N.J.