Brock University is among five Canadian host sites selected for new Rowing Canada hubs aimed at identifying and training up-and-coming national-calibre rowers.<\/p>\n
Rowing Canada announced Thursday, Oct. 26 that Brock University, the University of British Columbia, University of Victoria, Western University and Trent University have been selected to host the Rowing Canada NextGen Hubs.<\/p>\n
Brock Sports Director Neil Lumsden called it a big win for the Badgers rowing program.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis reflects on the high level of coaching within our program along with our approach to developing our student athletes,\u201d Lumsden said. \u201cIt\u2019s a reflection of our rowing program, and Brock Sports as a department.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brock head rowing coach Peter Somerwil said it\u2019s also a reflection of the team\u2019s history of producing talented athletes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a recognition of Brock rowing\u2019s excellent track record of promoting athletes to the national team level through good coaching, equipment and winter training facilities,\u201d said Somerwil, who pointed out that Brock has sent 17 rowers to the Olympics over the years, and that nearly a quarter of the athletes representing Canada at the 2015 U23 World Championships and FISU Games were Brock athletes.<\/p>\n
The NextGen Hubs will provide all-encompassing high-performance services to identify NextGen rowers. Rowing Canada said the Hubs will provide optimal coach-to-athlete ratios, extensive performance planning and enhanced technical coaching capacity. Sport science and sport medicine support will also be embedded within these daily training environments.<\/p>\n
The connection between these NextGen Hubs and their local clubs was an integral component in the overall selection process.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m truly excited about the engagement of the rowing community in the process,\u201d said Adam Parfitt, RCA Director, Coach and Athlete Pathways. \u201cThey care about Canada\u2019s performance and by putting their hands up, they want to share in the responsibility and process of finding and training our next Olympians.\u201d<\/p>\n