WORCESTER, Mass. - In a lifelong sport like rowing, and at a record-entry event where multiple generations can compete, you're bound to run into a familiar face or two. Several "rowing celebrities" can be spotted racing this week at the 2016 USRowing Masters National Championships, Aug. 18-21 in Worcester, Mass. The event, sponsored by BNY Mellon and Connect-A-Dock, and hosted by Discover Central Massachusetts and the Quinsigamond Rowing Association, will see an estimated 2,160 participants over the four days.
If there is such a thing as household names in the sport of rowing, Caryn Davies is among them. The three-time Olympian and Row to Rio legend has been a vital part of rowing history, contributing to the eleven-year legacy of the U.S. women's eight, bringing home a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games, and gold in both 2008 and 2012.
She is here this weekend, competing in her first USRowing Masters National Championships in the women's open C four on Sunday.
At 12 years old, the then six-foot-tall Davies was scouted in her neighborhood grocery store by an Ithaca High School rowing coach, kicking off her 20-year career in the sport.
For Davies, all of her Olympic competitions have been individually special. "We just had a great time," said Davies. "We were happy. We just wanted to go fast and have fun. Even for the new women racing in the boat, I hope that's what they feel. Once you get out there, you don't focus on the legacy, just the 2,000 meters between you and the finish line."
Also racing in Worcester, Olympian Ted Nash took the course in the men's open H quadruple sculls in a composite boat with Fairmount Rowing Association on Friday, finishing third in a close race behind a Berkeley composite and a College composite boat. Nash has an impressive history with the sport, having represented the U.S. as a coach or athlete at eleven Olympic Games since 1960. Nash won gold in the 1960 Olympic Games in the four, and bronze in the 1964 Olympic Games.
Another competitor highlighting racing this week, and one who has nearly five decades of experience in the sport at many different levels, is National Rowing Foundation Executive Director Charlie Hamlin.
A Class of 1970 Harvard alum, Hamlin found himself at the starboard spare of the men's eight going to the 1968 Olympic Games. Hamlin and a few teammates chose to race a four at Olympic Trials.
"We were lucky enough to win the trials and then all of the sudden, we were Olympians after 18 months of training," said Hamlin, who was 21 at the time of the Games.
Hamlin finished fifth in the four, and was also on the U.S. national team in 1969 and 1970, competing in the eight at the 1969 European Championships. He stayed with the sport, serving as president of the Friends of Harvard Rowing for 15 years and coaching Cambridge Boat Club, who he is representing at this regatta. Hamlin credits much of his success to the late Harvard coach Harry Parker and jokes that during his time at university, he earned a summa cum laude in rowing.
"Just get out and do something, and you'll stay young and competitive. You'll stay a part of the community," said Hamlin.
This weekend, Hamlin will be competing in six events including the men's open G single, G double, H double, F four, F four with coxswain and G quad.
Tom Darling, silver medalist in the men's eight in the 1984 Olympic Games and fifth overall in the men's four with coxswain at the 1988 Olympic Games, is registered for four events this weekend. Darling is representing Cambridge Boat Club this week.
On Thursday, Darling finished third in the men's open C quad and first in the club F eight. Friday proved successful for Darling as well, as he finished first in the men's club D eight.
Another notable athlete to keep an eye out for is David Krmpotich , silver medalist in the men's four at both the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games. Krmpotich, president of Penn A.C., represented the club in a composite boat shared with Ted Nash, Alex Cook and Red Sargent in friday's men's open H quadruple sculls.