The Canadian women’s eight will reunite in Boston this weekend at the historic Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR) for the first time since their dominant victory at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.   

The Olympic champions will race in the Women’s Championships Eight event, one of the weekend headliners slated for Sunday October 24 at 2:25pm EST.

“This is my home river, my alma mater is Northeastern University, I am so excited to be back,” said Madison Mailey.

The Northeastern University rowing program will be naming a boat after the Olympic gold medallist on Saturday at the university boathouse.

“We are looking forward to having fun, feeling some speed under our oars, and also just enjoying the atmosphere of the HOCR. We didn’t get to celebrate much after the Olympics due to the pandemic and we cannot wait to spend some quality time together.”

Canada won its first gold in the Olympic women’s eight event since 1992. This also marks Canada’s first Olympic gold by a women’s crew since Marnie McBean and Kathleen Heddle’s double sculls victory in 1996.

“We are very excited to race the HOCR this year,” said two-time Olympian, Christine Roper. “After our race in Tokyo, we all scattered and went home to our families and friends so racing in Boston will be such a great opportunity to get us all back in the same place to hopefully make some more memories!”

Seven of the nine crew mates will reunite at the world’s largest rowing race this weekend in Boston, including Kristen Kit, Avalon Wasteneys, Sydney Payne, Madison Mailey, Andrea Proske, Christine Roper, and Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski. National teammates and Olympic spares Becca Zimmerman and Morgan Rosts will sit in for Susanne Grainger and Lisa Roman. The crew will also reunite with their Olympic coach and three-time World Champion, Michelle Darvill.

“I still have trouble wrapping my head around what we were able to accomplish in Tokyo,” adds Roper. “I cannot wait to be with the other women who were on that team who can relate to that same feeling.” 

About the Head of The Charles 
The Head of The Charles Regatta was founded in 1965 and is the world’s largest rowing race, regularly fielding more than 11,000 athletes from around the world to compete in a full line-up of sculling and sweep rowing events. The ages of competitors range from 17-year-old youth rowers to athletes in their 90s. The Regatta is a must-attend race for world class and Olympian rowers. More than 1,800 volunteers ensure the event runs smoothly and safely. 

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Media Contact:
Colleen Coderre
RCA Communications Lead
comm@rowingcanada.org
613-530-6217