Letter From Our CEO- March 2025

Dear USRowing members,

Happy March!

March is one of my favorite months of the year—it marks the beginning of spring racing season, especially for crews that have been on land since fall. Boats are being rigged, docks installed, and soon, rowers will be back on the water, shaking off winter and finding their rhythm again. I hope you all enjoy those first strokes of spring!  

It’s also Women’s History Month, a perfect time to reflect on the strong women who came before us in this sport—those who broke barriers, demanded their place in a boat, and trained and raced just like their male counterparts.  One crew that stands out is the Vichy 8, the first women’s eight to represent the U.S. at Worlds. The boat from the Philadelphia Girl’s Rowing Club won Nationals and the bid but received no funding. Their journey to the 1974 World Championships in Vichy, France, was a turning point, proving that American women belonged on the world stage and inspiring the next generation of female rowers. Their performance came just as Title IX was beginning to reshape collegiate sports, helping drive further investment in women’s rowing and opening doors for countless athletes to follow. 

We continue to stand on the shoulders of these trailblazers—as well as the many women (and men!) who coached and supported them along the way.  

Let’s make sure we keep that momentum going. Let’s encourage the young women in our lives to keep rowing, to keep pushing, and to keep striving for equality—both in the boat and beyond. Our four-time Olympian, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and five-time World Champion Meghan Musnicki recently recorded a letter to her younger self – watch on Instagram or Facebook – it’s a powerful reminder of the importance perseverance. 

On a personal note, I recently spoke with a parent who wasn’t sure whether to encourage her high school daughter to row in college. She worried it might take away from socializing, schoolwork, and—“will she ever get a job as a rower?” Alas, few are paid to be rowers after college, but I shared a different perspective. Of course, academics and a well-rounded college experience matter–– replete with socializing and learning. But if you want your daughter to spend four years surrounded by women who embody strength, grit, discipline, and teamwork, I’m not sure there’s anything better for a young woman to do in college than row. 

I think back to my own early mornings in college — before the sun came up, surrounded by my best friends and the stillness of flat water. Those years were a gift. I wish that same experience for every young woman who wants it, both in college and beyond. 

Thank you to the women whose shoulders we stand on and to those of you who continue to lead the way for our sport. And of course, a special shoutout to our most wonderful “Women in the Boat”— who you can follow along with here: @womenintheboat. 

All best,  

Amanda