The US Para four won its first silver since Tokyo, with a lineup of athletes new to the team this quadrennial. Reaching the final had already qualified the US for a place at the Paris Paralympics, and the US crew claimed its podium spot by powering away from Germany and being the only crew that could give chase to the dominant GB Para four.
You can watch the video replay of the race here
The US boat features four collegiate rowers, and along with coxswain Emelie Eldracher, who just finished her college racing career at MIT. Eldracher, Saige Harper and Alex Flynn all competed at Worlds last year, but finished off the podium. This year, the combination of the experience those three brought back from Racice and the addition of Benjamin Washburne at stroke and Skylar Dahl in bow put the young boat into the medals, just one year out from a Paralympic Games where the US hopes to defend--or improve upon--that Tokyo 202One silver.
Emelie Eldracher, coxswain: We went out and executed the plan that we had created as a boat with our fabulous coach, and we just tried to do what we've been training for as Alex said. We're just grateful for such a fast group of athletes to race, because the faster we go as a boat class, the faster we're all going to get.
Nothing quite prepares you to be coming through the finish line, making the podium at the World Championships. We trust each other. We love each other and we just came out to execute what we believed we could.
Saige Harper, 2 seat, on lining up against GB: Every crew out there is amazing, which is very important to note, but it's also important to note that we're amazing, too. So we belong there and we showed that today.
Skylar Dahl, bow seat: This whole world championships I've felt so calm, because of the support from my teammates and the coaches. Emelie kept saying the word 'zen' and I have not felt more zen than this race. I think that's because of all of our hard work. I knew we were so prepared and I had all the trust in this boat and these people. I've been so confident every time we get on the line.
Benjamin Washburne, stroke seat: The stakes are just that much higher [than college racing]. You put that much more preparation into it and the competitors are just that more focused and determined. But at the same time, it's a race. 2000 meters is nothing different. So the collegiate prep served us well, yeah, and it's awesome to be able to carry it over to here today.
Alex Flynn, 3 seat: We didn't have the best result last year, but I think what was important is that we all came together at the end of this summer, set a goal and were dead set on accomplishing it. So the work that we all did really paid off and I'm excited to see where it goes.
Read about the other US medal winners here.
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