SEATTLE – Washington coxswain Stuart Sim has been selected as the coxswain of Australia's men's eight that will attempt to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sim and his boat will row in the final Olympic Qualification Regatta May 22-24 in Lucerne, Switzerland, the last chance for the Aussies to qualify their eight for the Rio Games.
RowingAustralia.com Release: 2016 Australian Rowing Team Announced
"I couldn't be more grateful and thankful for the support I've received from the whole UW Rowing community while in Seattle and abroad,” Sim said. “Without the lessons and opportunities I've had with the Huskies I wouldn't have even gotten close to this part of the journey which I find myself in. Always a Husky.”
Sim, a native of Melbourne, Australia, coxed UW to its last two IRA National Championships in the varsity eight in 2015 and 2014, and coxed UW's freshman eight to a National Championship in 2013. He is taking a year off from Washington Rowing due to his involvement with the Australian National Team and Olympic Qualification, but will return for his senior season in 2017.
Sim is one on a long list current Huskies and UW alumni who are hoping to represent their respective countries at this summer's Olympic Games. In total, 24 Huskies from seven countries are vying for spots at the 2016 Rio Games, 12 coming from the U.S., the most of any country represented.
The list includes current Huskies like Dani Hansen (USA), Ben Davison (USA) and Pietro Zileri (ITA), and alumni turned international stalwarts such as Megan Kalmoe (USA), Rob Munn (USA), Patricia Obee (CAN) and Will Crothers (CAN), to name a few.
Also competing for Olympic spots are 2015 graduates Fiona Gammond (GBR) and and Liz Vogt (USA).
Washington Rowing History at the Olympics
Washington Rowing has produced a total of 73 Olympians in its history. UW had 12 Olympians at the 2012 London Olympics, the most Huskies ever at an Olympic Games. The 12 combined to win seven medals – one gold, three silver and three bronze – to run UW's total to 42 Olympic medals, including 23 gold medals.
UW women's crew has 15 Olympians in its history, nine of which competed at the Olympics at least twice. Those 15 Olympians won five gold medals and nine medals overall. Mary Whipple is the most decorated Olympian in UW women's crew history, having competed at the Olympics in 2004, 2008 and 2012. She coxed the American eight to two gold medals (2008, 2012) a silver medal (2004).
UW men's crew has a total of 58 Olympians, combining to win a total of 33 Olympic medals, including 18 gold medals. That includes the historic 1936 crew of nine Huskies that won gold in the eight representing the U.S. and the five Huskies that comprised the 1948 U.S. gold-medal winning coxed four.
Washington Rowing 2016 Olympic Hopefuls
United States
Benjamin Davison, '18
Samuel Dommer, '14
Dani Hansen, '16
Megan Kalmoe, '06
Adrienne Martelli, '10
Robert Munn, '12
Samuel Ojserkis, '12
Ambrose Puttmann, '12
Hans Struzyna, '11
Kerri Simmonds, '11
Katelin Snyder, '09
Liz Vogt, '15
Canada
William Crothers, '09
Rosie Debouf, '10
Robert Gibson, '08
Conlin McCabe, '12
Patricia Obee, '14
Great Britain
Fiona Gammond, '15
Ruth Whyman, '14
Australia
Maddie Cordner, '14
Stuart Sim, '16
Italy
Pietro Zileri, '17
New Zealand
Kirstyn Goodger, '14
Serbia
Dusan Milovanovic, '13
