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Sep 26, 2024
Team USA
USRowing is pleased to announce that Todd Vogt (Rochester, N.Y./University of Buffalo) has been named the 2024 USRowing Para National Team Male Athlete of the Year, while Gemma Wollenschlaeger (St. Augustine, Fla./Temple University) has been selected as this year's USRowing Para National Team Female Athlete of the Year.
Selected by the athletes and coaches of the team that competed at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Vogt and Wollenschlaeger will be recognized on Attager Row at the Head of the Charles on Saturday, October 19, at 5 p.m.
Todd Vogt is a four-time Para national team member, competing on his first Paralympic team in 2024. Vogt competed in the PR3 mixed double sculls that finished seventh in Paris. He won silver in the PR3 mixed double sculls at the 2023 World Rowing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.
“I am truly honored, humbled, and shocked to have been named Male Para Athlete of the Year,” said Todd Vogt. “I thoroughly enjoyed rowing for the United States the last five years and tried to represent the country well.”
“Throughout these years, there have been so many people who have helped me. I would not have been able to spend the last five years rowing without the support of my wife, who endured me being away from home for months at a time, not working much, and always being hungry and tired. Thank you to the rest of my family for all their support, and my coaches, especially Andrea Thies, who coached me for the last two years. Additionally, a big thank you to everyone in the Portland rowing community, including Portland Boat Club, my home club.”
“After being diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease in 2018, I thought my rowing days were over. I appreciate everyone who encouraged me to continue rowing, especially when my idea of going to the Paralympics seemed like an unachievable dream.”
Gemma Wollenschlaeger won silver in the PR3 four with coxswain at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. She was named to her first Para national team last year for the 2023 World Championships, where she won silver with Vogt in the PR3 mixed double sculls.
Wollenschlaeger said about receiving the honor, “I am incredibly humbled and grateful for this recognition from USRowing. This honor is a testament to the dedication of my teammates and coaches who made these past couple of months the most unforgettable experience of my life. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to share this journey with!”
“These past couple of months have been more than I could have ever imagined! I want to give a shoutout to my boatmates Ben, Alex, Sky, and Emelie; you guys have truly made this journey what it is today! The trust on our team, in the boat and with one another, was one of a kind. The fight and desire was so motivating all summer. As a boat, we were able to accomplish what we set out to do. We were able to wear USA across our chests together on the biggest stage. So thank you, thank you to the team, thank you to our coaches and staff, and thank you to everyone that came on the journey with us.”
The announcements for the Beach Sprint Athlete of the Year will be announced tomorrow.
USRowing would like to thank Filippi Lido, the Official Boat Supplier for the U.S. Senior, Under 23, and Para Rowing National Teams. Under the agreement, Filippi is providing USRowing a fleet of boats for international competitions including the World Rowing Cup regattas, World Rowing Under 23 Championships, World Rowing Championships, Olympic Games, and Paralympic Games, as well as a domestic training fleet for the USRowing Training Centers.
