Awesome finish for Margot!

Love this photo of Margot. Think she's happy with her finish? You bet!

WAY TO GO, MARGOT!

World Championships wraps up today in Poznan, and we imagine that our Margot Shumway and her coach Matt Madigan are leaving with more than a few great memories from Margot’s final on Friday, August 28.

Here is what USRowing had to say about the race:  “In the women’s single sculls, 2008 Olympian Margot Shumway (Westlake, Ohio) dominated her race to win by 3.77 seconds and finish in 13th place overall. The U.S. sculler took the lead early and widened the gap with Norway’s Tale Gjoertz in the final stretch to cross in an 8:26.17. Norway crossed second in an 8:29.94, followed by Spain’s Nuria Dominguez Asensio third in an 8:41.42.”

Now, if you want some real behind the scenes insight, you need to check out Margot’s mom Julia’s blog.  There, not only will you find the Row2k.com photos leading up to the one above, but a note Margot sent her mom the night before the race that really is a must-read.  [We're just dorky enough to admit that it left us a little misty over here this morning!  (sniff)]

We are so proud of you, Margot!  Have a safe trip home, and great job!

For more news about the U.S. team in Poland today, check out Seven U.S. Crews to Race for Medals on Sunday at 2009 World Rowing Championships.

2009 Masters Nationals Photos

Below is a collection of photos we received from folks who were up at the 2009 Masters National Championship Regatta in Camden (Aug. 13 - 16).

If you have photos of Masters Nationals you would like to share, please let us know at potomacboatclub@potomacstar.com.

Enjoy!

Margot to race in repechages on Tuesday

Our Margot Shumway certainly fought the good fight this morning in the first heat of the women’s single sculls at World Championships in Poland. Margot, stroke of the U.S. women’s quad at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, sat in third place for the first 1,000 meters before eventually slipping back to sixth.

Lucerne gold-medalist Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic won the heat with a time of 7:33.07, followed by three-time Olympic medalist Katherine Granger of Great Britain with a time of 7:36.59. Margot finished with a time of 7:46.69, and will race in the repechages on Tuesday, August 25.

In other Team USA rowing news, the U.S. women’s pair, men’s pair with coxswain and lightweight men’s eight finished first in their heats, while the women’s double sculls and the men’s pair crews finished second to advance. Eleven U.S. crews will race tomorrow, Monday, August 24.

To catch live coverage of tomorrow’s races, and Margot in the reps on Tuesday (6:30 AM, Eastern), click here.  Get special coverage provided by Margot’s mom Julia, on the scene in Poznan, by visiting her blog here.  Finals (August 29-30) will be streamed here.

Our continued best to Margot and the rest of the team!