Ontario Rowers Ready to Compete in Tokyo

A most unique Olympic Games are already underway for some of Canada’s athletes, with the women’s softball and soccer teams playing their first games earlier today. One of the first events on tap at the Games will be the Olympic rowing regatta, which begins at 7:30pm EST on Thursday evening with the men’s single sculls heats opening the event.

It’s been a whirlwind five years since the last Olympic rowing event, and the athletes competing on Canada’s Olympic rowing team have persevered through a lot to say the least, particularly in the last 16 months, to earn their spot on the team and compete at the highest level of sport. Ontario’s rowers are well represented at the Tokyo 2020 Games, with 16 athletes with Ontario ties being named to a large team of 29 rowers. Three of Canada’s five spares are also from Ontario.

Here’s a look at the Ontario rowers who will be sporting the maple leaf at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games:

Women’s Team

Susanne Grainger
2nd Olympic Games (2016)
Hometown: London, Ont.
Club Affiliation: London Western Rowing Club
Event: Women’s Eight
Career Highlights: 5th place, Women’s Eight – 2016 Olympics, 5 Senior World Championship Medals (3 silver, 2 bronze), 2 Under-23 World Championship Gold Medals, 10 World Cup medals (2 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze)

Kristen Kit
1st Olympic Games
Hometown: St. Catharines, Ont.
Club Affiliation: University of British Columbia/St. Catharines Rowing Club
Event: Women’s Eight (coxswain)
Career Highlights: Bronze Medal, PR3 Mix 4+ – 2016 Paralympics, 2012 Paralympian, 3 Senior World Championship Medals (2 silver, 1 bronze), Bronze Medal, 2015 Para-rowing World Championship, 3 World Cup Medals (1 silver, 2 bronze)

Sydney Payne
1st Olympic Games
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.
Club Affiliation: Brentwood College
Event: Women’s Eight
Career Highlights: Silver Medal 2018 Senior World Championships, 2 Under-23 World Championship Gold Medals, 1 World Cup Silver Medal

Lisa Roman
2nd Olympic Games (2016)
Hometown: Langley, BC
Club Affiliation: London Western Rowing Club
Event: Women’s Eight
Career Highlights: 5th place, Women’s Eight – 2016 Olympics, 5 Senior World Championship Medals (3 silver, 2 bronze), 1 Under-23 World Championship Gold Medal, 7 World Cup Medals (2 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze)

Christine Roper
2nd Olympic Games (2016)
Hometown: Montego Bay, Jamaica
Club Affiliation: Ottawa Rowing Club
Event: Women’s Eight
Career Highlights: 5th place, Women’s Eight – 2016 Olympics, 6 Senior World Championship Medals (4 silver, 2 bronze), 3 Under-23 World Championship Medals (2 gold, 1 bronze), 12 World Cup Medals (3 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze)

Jennifer Martins
2nd Olympic Games (2016)
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.
Club Affiliation: Western University Rowing Club
Event: Women’s Four
Career Highlights: 14th place, Women’s Pair – 2016 Olympics, 4 Senior World Championship Medals (2 silver, 2 bronze), 1 Under-23 World Championship Gold Medal, 5 World Cup Medals (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze)

Kristina Walker
1st Olympic Games
Hometown: Wolfe Island, Ont.
Club Affiliation: Kingston Rowing Club/University of British Columbia
Event: Women’s Four
Career Highlights: 1 FISU World Championship Silver Medal, 3 Canadian University Rowing Championship Silver Medals

Jennifer Casson
1st Olympic Games
Hometown: Kingston, Ont.
Club Affiliation: Kingston Rowing Club
Event: Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls
Career Highlights: Competed at 3 Senior World Championships, 2 Under-23 World Championships, and 4 World Cups. Finished 4th place at 2017 World Championships (LW4x)

Jill Moffatt
1st Olympic Games
Hometown: Bethany, Ont.
Club Affiliation: Western University Rowing Club
Event: Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls
Career Highlights: 1 World Cup Gold Medal – LW1x, Competed at 4 Senior World Championships and 2 Under-23 World Championships. Finished in 4th place twice at Senior World Championships (LW4x)

Carling Zeeman
2nd Olympic Games (2016)
Hometown: Cambridge, Ont.
Club Affiliation: Sudbury Rowing Club
Event: Women’s Single Sculls
Career Highlights: 10th place, Women’s Single – 2016 Olympics, 2 Gold Medals – 2015 Pan Am Games, 1 Senior World Championship Silver Medal, 2 Under-23 World Championship Medals (1 silver, 1 bronze), 5 World Cup Medals (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze)

Men’s Team

Jakub Buczek
1st Olympic Games
Hometown: Kitchener, Ont.
Club Affiliation: St. Catharines Rowing Club
Event: Men’s Four
Career Highlights: 1 Under-23 World Championship Bronze Medal, Competed at 2 Senior World Championships, 1 World Cup Bronze Medal

Will Crothers
3rd Olympic Games (2012, 2016)
Hometown: Kingston, Ont.
Club Affiliation: Kingston Rowing Club
Event: Men’s Four
Career Highlights: Silver Medal, Men’s Eight – 2012 Olympics, 6th place, Men’s Four – 2016 Olympics, 2 Gold Medals – 2015 Pan Am Games, 2 Senior World Championship Medals (1 silver, 1 bronze), 1 Under-23 World Championship Gold Medal, 1 Junior World Championship Bronze Medal, 5 World Cup Medals (1 gold, 4 bronze)

Luke Gadsdon
1st Olympic Games
Hometown: Hamilton, Ont.
Club Affiliation: Leander Boat Club/Brock University
Event: Men’s Four
Career Highlights: 5th place, 2018 Under-23 World Championships (BM8+), 7th place, 2019 Under-23 World Championships (BM8+)

Gavin Stone
1st Olympic Games
Hometown: Brampton, Ont.
Club Affiliation: Island Lake Rowing Club/Queen’s University
Event: Men’s Four
Career Highlights: 1 World Cup Bronze Medal, 8th place, 2019 Senior World Championships (M8+), Competed at 2 Under-23 World Championships

Conlin McCabe
3rd Olympic Games (2012, 2016)
Hometown: Brockville, Ont.
Club Affiliation: Brockville Rowing Club
Event: Men’s Pair
Career Highlights: Silver Medal, Men’s Eight – 2012 Olympics, 6th place, Men’s Four – 2016 Olympics, 2 Gold Medals – 2015 Pan Am Games, 1 Senior World Championships Bronze Medal, 2 Under-23 World Championships Silver Medals, 1 Junior World Championships Silver Medal, 4 World Cup Bronze Medals

Trevor Jones
1st Olympic Games
Hometown: Lakefield, Ont.
Club Affiliation: Peterborough Rowing Club
Event: Men’s Single Sculls
Career Highlights: 2 Under-23 World Championships Gold Medals, 14th place, Men’s Single Sculls – 2019 World Championships.

Spares

Joshua King
Hometown: Ottawa, Ont.
Club Affiliation: Ottawa Rowing Club
Career Highlights: 6th place LM2x, 2019 Pan Am Games, 9th place LM4x, 2016 Senior World Championships

Morgan Rosts
Hometown: Jordan, Ont.
Club Affiliation: Ridley Graduate Boat Club
Career Highlights: 2 Under-23 World Championship Gold Medals

Rebecca Zimmerman
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.
Club Affiliation: Brockville Rowing Club/University of Victoria
Career Highlights: 2 Senior World Championships Silver Medals, 2 World Cup Medals (1 silver, 1 bronze)

Visit World Rowing for the full Olympic rowing schedule and for more information on rowing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Visit CBC for the full Olympic rowing live streaming schedule.

Photos are property of Rowing Canada Aviron