U.S. Rowing’s All-time Greats to be Honored at the 2017 World Rowing Championships
The 2017 World Rowing Championships will be teaming up with the National Rowing Foundation and USRowing to honor 19 “Crews of Distinction” at the 2017 World Rowing Championships in Sarasota-Bradenton.
Selected by the National Rowing Foundation, 19 U.S. gold medal-winning crews from across seven decades will be honored on Saturday, September 30, following the completion of racing at approximately 1:15 p.m. Crews will be honored both on the water and on land, with 11 boats doing a row-by through the finish line.
“U.S. Rowing has a strong history of great performances,” said Jamie Koven, co-chair of the National Rowing Foundation and two-time world champion. “It’s nice to have so many successful men’s and women’s crews back to celebrate the World Rowing Championships on our home turf.”
“The 2017 World Rowing Championships will showcase today’s best of the best,” said Meredith Scerba, the executive director of the 2017 World Rowing Championships. “Through Crews of Distinction, our spectators will have an incredible opportunity to see and meet some of the sport’s elite all-stars of the past. It’s going to be historic and you won’t want to miss it.”
Crews being honored include the 1987 men’s eight and lightweight women’s four, celebrating the 30th anniversary of their victories; the 1994 men’s eight and lightweight women’s four, representing world champions from the last time the U.S. hosted the World Rowing Championships; and the 1997 men’s eight, men’s single sculls, lightweight women’s single sculls and men’s pair with coxswain, celebrating the 20th anniversary of their gold medal performances.
September 23 – October 1, 2017 2017 World Rowing Championships “we welcome the world”
Other world champions being honored include the 1966 men’s single sculls, 1974 men’s eight, 1995 women’s eight, 1999 lightweight men’s eight, 2003 trunk and arms double sculls, and 2006 women’s eight – the first crew in the current streak of 11 consecutive world and Olympic women’s eight titles.
In addition, five Olympic gold medal crews will be recognized including the 1956 men’s eight, 1964 men’s eight, 1984 women’s eight, 1984 men’s double sculls, and 2004 men’s eight.