Three Salford-trained rowers have received a welcome financial boost as they chase selection for Great Britain’s national team and their long term goal of Rio 2016.
Zak Lee-Green, Rebecca Chin and Stella D’Arch Smith fought off competition from over 100 other rowers to claim scholarships from Apogee Corporation alongside Frazer Christie who trains in Bath.
The four scholars will recieve help with travelling costs, equipment and training as they aim to make the senior team, with Rebecca and Zak already having raced for the national under-23 team.
Rebecca said: “I want to help the GB Rowing Team win more medals and titles and will do everything I can to make this a reality.”
At London 2012, British rowers won their greatest ever haul of medals, picking up four golds, two silver and three bronze medals at Eton Dorney.
The young rowers are all on GB Rowing Teams’ Start Programme, which helped nurture Olympic champions Helen Glover, Heather Stanning, Anna Watkins, Kat Copeland and Alex Gregory.
Steve Gunn, GB Rowing Team Start Manager, said: “Rowers at this level make huge personal sacrifices to follow their dreams. Many have to relocate and struggle to make ends meet as they juggle the demands of training around having to support themselves.”
Stella, who also coaches voluntariy at Agecroft, said: “Knowing that I have people supporting and backing me drives my thirst for success.”
This weekend world class rowers will return to Eton Dorney for the World Rowing Cup II after the first event in Sydney, Australia in March.
Image courtesy of lloydstsblondon2012 via YouTube, with thanks
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