New USRowing Athlete Council Will Ensure Organized Athlete Voice

As part of the organization's new governance structure, the USRowing Athlete Council has been officially seated with the recent selection of the at-Large representatives.

The purpose of the athlete council is to support the mission of USRowing and to act as a liaison between national team athletes and the board and staff of USRowing. The council will help address confidential athlete issues, advise the board on athlete issues, act as a resource to the board and staff, and provide athlete feedback to the USOPC Athlete Advisory Council through the AAC representatives. All national governing bodies are now required to establish and maintain an Athlete Advisory Council under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act.

The leadership team of the USRowing Athlete Council includes Sara Hendershot (chair), Dariush Aghai (vice chair), and Grace Latz (secretary), who are all currently serving one-year terms as elected by their athlete council peers. Their roles will involve organizing the members, moving forward the initiatives of the council, and handling a division of athlete concerns. Their full roles and responsibilities live in the Athlete Council Leadership Team document.

"The establishment of our USRowing Athlete Council is allowing us to formalize and organize our athlete representatives into an effective unit," said Hendershot. "The progress I've seen this group make over the past year has been incredibly inspiring – from improving national team athlete communication to providing key input in decisions like the CHPO hiring and selection process. The athlete engagement is now stronger than I've ever witnessed. Forming the athlete council is another step in our ability to effectively elevate the athlete voice."

The new council is made up of 10 athletes who meet the "10 Year Athlete" definition in the USOPC Bylaws. It includes USRowing's two AAC representatives, two USRowing Board of Directors athlete representatives, two USRowing High Performance Committee athlete representatives, two USRowing Para High Performance Committee athlete representatives, and two at-large representatives.

"The athlete council gives athletes not just a seat at the decision-making table, but a voice in the conversation about issues that affect them as elite athletes, as people, and as Team USA," said Grace Latz. "An important function of this new council is to process athlete input confidentially and help navigate those concerns from beginning to resolution alongside the athlete. The focus is to empower athletes and support them by those who've been in their seats. Know you've got us in your corner and reach out to any of your council members when it comes to improving your elite athlete experience."

Click here to see the complete USRowing Athlete Council Charter.

The current athlete council includes:

Dariush Aghai – USRowing Board of Directors Male Athlete Representative

Daniel Ahr – USRowing Para High Performance Committee Male Athlete Representative

Liam Corrigan – USRowing High Performance Committee Male Athlete Representative

Sara Hendershot – AAC Athlete Representative, USRowing Board of Directors

Grace Latz – Athlete Council At-Large Representative

Robin Prendes – AAC Alternate Athlete Representative, USRowing Board of Directors

Taylor Ritzel – USRowing Board of Directors Female Athlete Representative

Jaclyn Smith – USRowing Para High Performance Committee Female Athlete Representative

Dr. Genevra Stone – USRowing High Performance Committee Female Athlete Representative

Maddie Wanamaker – Athlete Council At-Large Representative