Letter From Our CEO - May 2025

Dear USRowing Members, 

The college racing season is in high gear, and it’s been exciting to watch teams around the country build toward their championship events. I plan to attend both the NCAA and IRA Championships in June and hope to see many of you there. 

On the youth side, our 2025 USRowing Youth Series is officially underway. More than 5,000 athletes competed over the past two weekends at the Regional Championships—an important first step toward qualifying for the 2025 Youth National Championships in Sarasota this June. These regattas showcased the strength, depth, and determination of the next generation of rowers, and set the tone for what’s shaping up to be a highly competitive series across all regions. 

This month also brought a milestone moment for our sport: Anita DeFrantz was inducted into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Hall of Fame. Only the second rower to receive this honor, Anita’s legacy is profound. As an Olympic medalist, international leader, and lifelong advocate for equity and access in sport, she has broken barriers and opened doors for countless athletes—especially women and people of color. Her work has shaped not only rowing, but the entire Olympic movement. I’ve long admired Anita’s courage, clarity, and commitment to sport where she has courageously led the way, and we’re proud to celebrate her as one of our own in Rowing. You can read more here. 

As the season continues, I want to thank each of you—athletes, coaches, parents, officials, and volunteers—for your role in making this sport what it is. Especially to our coaches, those regatta days are wonderful, but they're not short or easy, so thanks for all you do.  

Looking forward to seeing some of you at races this spring!  

All best,  

Amanda  

Photo of OARS' Thomas Pierce by Phoenix Strange