USRowing Unveils Strategic Plan for U.S. National Team’s Long-Term Success

USRowing announced today a strategic and comprehensive four-year plan designed to position Team USA for success at the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles and beyond. The goals set for the Games are for USRowing to win four Olympic medals - three flat water, one beach sprints, and one Paralympic medal while qualifying for 13 out of 15 of the Olympic events and four out of five of the Paralympic events. 

The 2025-2028 High Performance Plan is built upon a forward-looking vision that emphasizes identifying the most talented athletes through active scouting, retaining them by offering a clear pathway with dual career opportunities, and supporting their transition to life beyond sports. USRowing will establish a state-of-the-art program that operates independently of geographic location and delivers a comprehensive and intentional approach to athlete development.

"We’re proud and excited to roll out this high performance plan for LA2028,” said Amanda Kraus, CEO of USRowing. “The plan commemorates our vision for the future. A vision for an elite, sustainable program that provides the foundation for support for U.S. rowers to reach the podium at international competitions. We believe the future is bright for our high performance program, and this roadmap provides a clear path forward for our athletes, coaches, supporters, and fans."  

Under USRowing’s Chief High Performance Officer Josy Verdonkschot, the U.S. national team will continue to build a sustainable, athlete-centered, coach-driven, scientifically supported, and performance-directed system. To support endeavors over the next quadrennial, the high performance program will retain key full-time staff alongside Verdonkschot, with coaches Jesse Foglia and Casey Galvanek renewing their agreements as women’s sweep head coach and men’s sweep head coach, respectively, and Ellen Minzner continuing as Director of Para High Performance for her sixth year. The program will also add a full-time Embedded Scientist, as well as alongside two full-time coaches covering Coastal and Sculling disciplines.

The four-year strategic plan is built around the three key pillars of People, Places, and Program:

People: USRowing’s approach prioritizes athletes, ensuring individualized care and focus on development, retention, and synergy between training and careers. USRowing aims to provide performance-based financial support, allowing athletes to dedicate themselves full-time to their sport during at least part of the Olympic cycle. Emphasis will be placed on individual growth by enhancing small boat skills and individualized training based on physiological profile. Additionally, USRowing will implement a structured, uniform system for talent identification and development, guiding athletes from Pathways to the elite level.

Places: USRowing plans to enhance the current training centers in West Windsor (NJ), Boston (MA), and Sarasota (FL), transforming them into homes for our athletes with infrastructure and services meeting international High Performance standards. Additionally, we plan to establish a West Coast training center in preparation for the 2028 Olympics and a dedicated training center for the Pathways program to support talent identification and development.

Program: A uniform training structure with clear periodization will be applied both within a season and across the Olympic cycle. Training and monitoring will be data-driven and scientifically supported, focusing on biomechanics, physiology, recovery, and overall well-being. Athletes will benefit from clear benchmarks and performance diagnostics to guide their development, alongside individualized long-term planning that considers social, academic, and professional factors. The program will adopt a hybrid structure, combining decentralized training at centers or clubs with centralized camps to prepare for selection processes and international competitions.

The full four-year plan and presentation are available to read here and here.