WEST WINDSOR, N.J. - The United States Olympic Committee, USRowing and the Princeton National Rowing Association today announced the continued designation of the Caspersen Rowing Center as an official U.S. Olympic Training Site for rowing through the year 2018. First designated a U.S. Olympic Training Site in 2007, the Caspersen Rowing Center will continue to play an important role in preparing U.S. athletes for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
"The partnership between USRowing and PNRA is paramount to our continued success internationally," said USRowing CEO Glenn Merry. "Mercer Lake and the Caspersen Olympic Training Site provide excellent competition and training grounds for the U.S. team. We are very excited to continue the positive relationship between our two organizations through 2018."
"We truly appreciate the commitment of the Caspersen Rowing Center in continuing as an Olympic Training Site," said Alicia McConnell, USOC director of training sites and community partnerships. "The center provides a great benefit to USRowing and its athletes, and has contributed to the success of Team USA."
The mission of the U.S. Olympic Training Sites is to deliver additional resources, services and facilities for athletes and National Governing Bodies, while providing an elite athlete training environment that positively impacts performance. The 173 members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams who utilized the Olympic Training Sites earned a total of 32 medals at the London Games.
Since its creation in the 1970s, Mercer County Park's Mercer Lake has been recognized as one of the premier rowing venues in the world and a USRowing Training Site. Mercer Lake has hosted five U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Rowing, including the 2012 event. Additionally, Mercer Lake has hosted numerous USRowing National Team selection events, international regattas, and collegiate and junior national championship regattas.
"We take pride in providing the youth of Mercer County with the opportunity to be exposed to Olympic caliber athletes pursuing their dream of making the Olympic Team," said PNRA President Tim Hosea. "Displaying excellence, discipline and fair play, these athletes are positive role models for the entire community. The support of our community has helped our women's eight to win the gold medal in the Beijing and London Olympics and will continue to help them reach their goals in the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games of 2016."
"I'm thrilled that Mercer County will continue to be home to one of the 15 U.S. Olympic Training Sites," said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes. "Our residents can take pride in the fact that the Caspersen Rowing Center on Mercer Lake is a world-class facility that prepares our nation's top rowers for competition at the highest level."
Named for the late Finn M.W. Caspersen, the Caspersen Rowing Center was established in 1998 as a rowing venue for the Lawrenceville School and the Peddie School. Under the direction of the PNRA, the Caspersen Rowing Center expanded in 2002 to become home to the U.S. National Team, which was already training at the site. The rowing center now has six boathouse bays, locker rooms, an indoor training room, a spectator tower, office space and a conference room. The internationally certified racecourse includes a seven-lane fully buoyed course, a three-story finish-line tower, boat storage area, dock space and a spacious finish-line viewing area.
"West Windsor Township is very proud to have the U.S. Olympic Training Site here and we appreciate the contributions that PNRA has made to our community," said Shing-Fu Hsueh, mayor of the Township of West Windsor. "They have provided local programs and encouraged residents to be more physically active. We look forward to their continued presence."
The Caspersen Rowing Center is also home to PRNA's Mercer Rowing Program, a nationally recognized program that offers area residents of all ages and skills the opportunity to participate in the sport of rowing. More than 160 junior athletes compete as part of the Mercer Junior Program under the tutelage of some of the best athletes in the country. PNRA also offers a full range of opportunities for adults from learn-to-row programs to a competitive rowing experience. Through its outreach programs, PNRA provides mentoring to Trenton-area youth while also involving them in the Mercer Rowing Program.
A full list of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Sites can be found here.