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us men's eight at 2024 olympics
USRowing

Men's Rowing

Callahan Awarded 'Order Of Ikkos' By U.S. Olympic Committee

Washington men's rowing coach Michael Callahan, who helped lead the United States men's eight to its first Olympic medal since 2008, has been awarded the Order of Ikkos from the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
 
Callahan, who is entering his 18th year as the UW men's teams head coach, guided the United States eight to the bronze medal last Saturday morning at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The U.S. crew included four UW alumni among its nine members.
 
The Order of Ikkos was created by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee in 2008. It is presented by Team USA medal-winning athletes to a coach, mentor or other individual who has been instrumental in their success. The Order of Ikkos is named after Ikkos of Tarentum, the first recorded Olympic coach in ancient Greece. His coaching led multiple Tarentine athletes to gold medals in the pentathlon, and his legacy is honored through this award. Each medalist is allowed to present only one medal to a selected recipient.
 
Callahan was nominated by the athletes of the crew, and was awarded the medal at the Team USA House. The medallion is a symbol of excellence in coaching as represented by athletes' achievement as an Olympic or Paralympic Medalist.
 
A former UW captain (1996) and U.S. National Team oarsman himself, Callahan has been involved with the program in various capacities for more than two decades, including leading an American men's eight to the gold medal at 2018 World Rowing Under-23 Championships.
 
As head coach at Washington, Callahan has been named Pac-12 Coach of the year an unprecedented 12 times, and has led Washington to eight national championships.
 
At the 2024 Olympic Games, a total of 11 UW alumni, including eight men, won medals, an all-time high for the program.
 
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