SARASOTA – More than 120 athletes in 93 boats are taking part of the week long U.S. Rowing Olympic and Paralympic Trials.
Day one of the 2021 U.S. Rowing Olympic and Paralympic Trials have arrived, and for several of the athletes competing at Monday’s trials their biggest opponents weren’t each other.
It was first day jitters as for many of them this was their first competition in over a year since the pandemic began.
“This is probably the most nervous I’ve been in a really long time to row, because I haven’t had any races,” said Travis Taaffe.
All eyes are on the Suncoast with athletes competing to be part of Team U.S.A. in the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Taaffe, a Sarasota native, a Harvard Law student competed in the Men’s Heavyweight Single. He says having to choose between two of his passion has been a challenge of its own.
“It’s hard to balance and I gave up a lot of time studying – or I should be studying to train,” Taaffe.
Lindsey Rust normally competes in the Women’s Lightweight Rowing Eights and Fours for Stanford University, but switched it up for the Olympic trials by competing in the Women’s Singles under Sarasota Crew.
She says this experience will hopefully pay off in the long run when she once again competes to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
“You forget at certain parts and how it feels,” said Rust. “I just think getting that experience in is really helpful for the next time I race, and I’ll be able to shift my plan around a little bit.”
The Olympic trials will be taking place the entire week at Nathan Benderson Park for the second time in history.
The more than 120 athletes competing will all advance to Tuesdays and Wednesday repechage. While Thursday will feature the semifinals, with finals taking place on Friday. Where only the winner of the women’s single sculls will earn her ticket to Tokyo.
Stay with SNN as Alejandro Romero and Sports Director Jake Young will be bringing you coverage of the U.S. Rowing Olympic Trials all week long.
All culminating to the big qualifying race on Friday starting at 8:30 a.m.