In 2023, Michelle Sechser had to come from the sixth bow position to claim the Champ Singles medal and the $10,000 first prize. This year, her challenge will be different. Starting in Bow #1 as defending champion, she will have to hold off a field filled with her fellow Paris Olympians.

“I'm so excited about the depth and the speed of competitors that are coming to race,” said the 37-year-old Sechser. “I think this Head Of The Charles is going to be the best one yet.”

Sechser finished sixth in the lightweight double in Paris with partner Molly Reckford. Among those chasing her up the course on Saturday afternoon will be the gold medalist in that lightweight double event, Imogen Grant of Great Britain. Also threatening Sechser’s defense will be Emma Twigg of New Zealand, who added Paris silver to the singles gold she won in Tokyo; Paris singles finalist Kara Kohler of the United States; USRowing’s Teal Cohen and Alina Hagstrom, teammates in the U.S. quad in Paris; and 2021 HOCR Champion Maggie Fellows. All will be vying for a share of the $35,000 in prize money that will again go to the top three finishers in the men’s and women’s Championship Singles races.

Emma Twigg in 2023

“In years past, there’s been one or two pretty quick women at the top,” said Sechser, who noted the “depth and talent” of this year’s start list. “It's a little bit daunting, especially coming off an Olympic comedown and recuperation time.”

Kara Kohler in 2023

Sechser, who recently took a month off from her rigorous training schedule to bike with friends in New Hampshire and Maine following the Olympics, isn’t the only athlete who feels removed from her routine. Grant, 28, echoed similar feelings of readjustment following the Olympics.

“I took a bit of time off after the Olympics as I was starting my new job as a doctor,” Grant said in an email. “It feels like I've fit a year's worth of experiences into less than three months.”

Imogen Grant

Although her training regimen has been less intense than it was before the Olympics, Grant said that every session has been “really high quality.” This will be her first time racing in the Head Of The Charles, and she’s eager to experience the atmosphere of the regatta.

“Head Of The Charles holds a mythical status around the world as one of the most prestigious regattas there is,” said Grant. “I think the whole area will be buzzing.”

On Sunday, Sechser and Grant will face another challenge – this time together, racing as part of a lightweight Great Eight in the Championship Eights race. Their boat will include some of the very competitors they’ve battled on the world stage through the years, including Romania’s Gianina Van Groningen and Canada’s Jill Moffatt.

“It really feels like we grew up together, but I've never had the chance to truly spend time with them or row with them,” Sechser said. “Knowing that we've been trying to beat each other for nearly a decade and now we're going to unify as one is just really special.”

With competitors from around the globe, and more than 400,000 spectators expected to line the riverbanks, Sechser and Grant share the belief that whatever the weekend may or may not bring by way of medals or money, the spirit of the weekend will not disappoint.

“It's the best competition you'll get anywhere, but it's also a fun festival,” said Sechser. “If you don't have the best race of your life, you can still have an incredible experience because you got to see all your friends and old teammates.”