2011 Heavyweight Women Eight, pair and double

Coaches: Al Morrow, John Keogh, Jeff Powell

Lesley Thompson-Willie

Hometown: London, ON
Birth date: September 20, 1959
Birthplace: Toronto, ON
Club affiliation: London Rowing Club, ON
Occupation: Teacher/librarian/athlete
Education: B.A. in Physical Education and B. Ed.
Personal: Married to Paul Willie

Recent Highlights:
2011 - 2nd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2010 - 2nd in the W8+, World Rowing Championships
2010 - 2nd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2010 - Remenham Challenge Cup, Henley Royal, England
2009 - women's eight, World Championships Poznan, Poland
2008 – 4th in the W8+, Olympics, Beijing, China
2008 – 3rd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2008 - 2nd in the W8+, World Cup, Poznan, Poland

Olympic Results:
On seven Olympic teams:
1980 (Games boycotted)
1984, 2nd in the W4+
1988, 7th in the W4+
1992, 1st in the W8+
1996, 2nd in the W8+
2000, 3rd in the W8+
2008, 4th in the W8+


Other info: After 2000, Lesley took a break from coxing at the National Team level – she worked at a London, Ontario high school, and coached development and high school crews. She rejoined National Team in 2006.
Named to seven Olympic teams (including 2008); she has six world championship medals; member of Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame.

Andréanne Morin

Hometown: Montreal, QC
Birth date: Aug. 9, 1981
Birthplace: Quebec City, QC
Club affiliation: Montreal Rowing Club
Interests: Reading and cooking
Training centre: London, ON

Education:
Phillips Exeter Academy, 2000; BA (Political Economy) Princeton University, 2006; pursuing law degree.

Highlights:
2011 - 2nd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2010 - 2nd in the W8+, World Rowing Championships
2010 - 2nd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2010 - Remenham Challenge Cup, Henley Royal, England
2008 - 4th in the W8+, Olympics, Beijing, China
2008 - 2nd in the W8+, World Cup, Poznan, Poland
2008 - 3rd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland

Other results:
2006 – 5th in the W8+, World Championships, Eton, England
2006 – NCAA National Champion
2004 – Member of the Canadian Olympic W8+
2003 – 3rd in the W8+, World Championships, Milan, Italy
2003 – 3rd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland

Other info: has been in National Team program since 2001.

Darcy Marquardt

Hometown: Richmond, BC
Birth date: March 22, 1979
Birthplace: Vancouver, B.C.
Club affiliation: University of Victoria

Place of residence/training centre: London, ON

Interests: Cooking, public speaking, travel, community volunteer work, film, reading, hiking and spending time with friends and family.

Education:
-University of Victoria
-Hugh McRoberts Secondary School

Recent Highlights:
2011 - 2nd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2010 - 2nd in the W8+, World Rowing Championships
2010 - 2nd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2010 - Remenham Challenge Cup, Henley Royal, England

2008 – 4th in the W8+, Olympics, Beijing, China
2008 - 3rd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2008 - 2nd in the W8+, World Cup, Poznan, Poland

Key Results:
2007 - 4th in the W2-, World Cup, Linz, Austria
2006 - 1st in the W2-, World Cup, Munich, Germany
2006 - 1st in the W2-, World Championships, Eton, England
2004 – 2nd in the W2-, World Cup, Munich, Germany
2004 - 4th in the W2-, Olympic Games, Athens, Greece
2003 – 3rd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2003 - 3rd in the W8+, World Championships, Milan, Italy
2002 - 2nd in the W4- and 6th in the W8+, World Championships, Seville, Spain

Athletic Distinctions:

2004 - Richmond's all-round athlete of the year award
2003 - Richmond's senior female athlete award
2001 - Women's crew of the year award, Rowing Canada Aviron
1999 - Rookie of the year, UVIC novice rowing

Other info: Darcy learned to row in her first year at the University of Victoria (1998-99), where she ultimately achieved a Bachelor's degree in French with a minor in Psychology. Her career path has since lead her to financial consulting with Investors Group, where she has developed her business skills and an aptitude for working with people.

She returned to rowing full-time last year, having taken 2009 off to pursue other interests, and has now made the commitment to train for the 2012 Games.

 

Ashley Brzozowicz

Hometown: London, Ont.
Birthdate: Dec. 17, 1982
Birthplace: Toronto, Ont.
Interests: Reading, films, photography
Education:
BA (History of Art), Yale University, 2004

Rowing Highlights:
2011 - 2nd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2010 - 2nd in the W8+, World Rowing Championships
2010 - 2nd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2010 - 3rd in the W2-, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2010 - Remenham Challenge Cup, Henley Royal, England
2010 - 1st in the W2-, World Cup, Bled, Slovenia
2008 – 4th in the W8+, Olympics, Beijing, China
2008 – 2nd in the W8+, World Cup, Poznan, Poland
2008 – 3rd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2007 – 6th in the W8+, World Rowing Championships, Munich, Germany
2007 – 4th in the W8+, World Cup, Linz, Austria
2006 – 5th in the W8+, World Rowing Championships, Eton, England
2004 – 2nd at NCAA Championships
2002-2003 - Member of Under 23 World Regatta teams

Krista Guloien

Hometown: Port Moody, B.C.
Birth date: March 20, 1980
Birthplace: New Westminster, BC
Club Affiliation(s): Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia
Interests: Family, Travel, Shopping, Films, Music, Cycling
Education: BA (Criminology), Simon Fraser University; Port Moody Senior Secondary School

Key results:

2011 - 2nd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2010 - 2nd in the W8+, World Rowing Championships
2010 - 2nd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2010 - 3rd in the W2-, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2010 - Remenham Challenge Cup, Henley Royal, England
2010 - 1st in the W2-, World Cup, Bled, Slovenia
2008 - 8th in the Olympic quad, Beijing, China
2008 - 5th in the W2x, World Cup, Poznan, Poland
2007 - 5th in the W4x, World Championships, Munich, Germany
2007 - 7th in the W4x, World Cup, Linz, Austria
2006 - 7th in the W4, World Championships, Eton, England

Other info: Krista began rowing in 2001 when she began her degree in Criminology at Simon Fraser University. After making it onto the National Team in 2006, she moved to London, ON.

Rachelle Viinberg (formerly de Jong)

Hometown: Regina, SK
Birth date: April 30, 1979
Club affiliation(s): Regina Rowing Club, SK; UVic, BC
Occupation: Student/ athlete
Interests: Reading, movies, hiking, cooking

Education:
BSc (Biology) University of Victoria; student of naturopathy at the Canadian College of Naturopathic medicine in Toronto.

Key results:
2011 - 2nd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2010 - 2nd in the W8+, World Rowing Championships
2008 - 8th in the Olympic quad, Beijing, China
2007 - 5th in the W4x, World Championships, Munich, Germany
2006 – 7th in the W4x, World Championships, Eton, England
2004 - Alternate on Olympic team in Athens, Greece
2003 - 4th in the W4-, World Championships, Milan, Italy
2002 - 2nd in the W4-, World Championships, Seville, Spain
2002 - 6th in the W8+, World Championships, Seville, Spain
2002 - 4th in the W8+, World Cup, Munich, Germany
2001 - 2nd in the W2-, US Nationals, Camden, New Jersey
2000 - 1st in the W8+, Women's Henley, Henley-on-Thames, England
2000 - 2nd in the W8+, Henley Royal Regatta, Henley-on-Thames, England
1997 - 1st in the W4- and 2nd in the W8+, Jeux Canada Games, Brandon, Manitoba

Other info: Plans to be a naturopathic doctor with a private practice.

Natalie Mastracci

Birthdate: 05.06.1989
Hometown: Thorold, ON
Club: St. Catharines Rowing Club

Key results:

2011 - 2nd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2010 - 3rd in the BW8+ U23 World Championships - Brest BLR, Belarus
2009 - 4th in the BW8+ U23 World Championships - Racice, Czech Republic
2008 - 4th in the BW8+ World U-23 Regatta - Brandenburg, Germany

Cristy Nurse

Hometown: Georgetown, ON
Birth date: December 5, 1986

Club Affiliation: Ottawa Rowing Club and Don Rowing Club  
Education: Honours B.A., University of Guelph
Presently working towards a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Ottawa

Key results:
2011 - 2nd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
-2010 - 2nd in the W8+, World Rowing Championships
-Alternate, 2010 British Henley and Lucerne World Cup team

Other info: After gaining experience as a parliamentary intern in Ottawa in 2009, her ambition is to complete her degree and eventually practice law in a government setting.

 

Janine Hanson

Birth date: Dec 14, 1982
Hometown: Winnipeg, Man.
Birthplace: San Diego, California, USA
Club Affiliation: Winnipeg Rowing Club
Interests: Working with children, reading a good book
Education: University of Michigan, Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Movement Science (2006)

Other info: Goal is to become a certified aquatic therapist.

Key Results:

2011 - 2nd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2010 - 2nd in the W8+, World Rowing Championships
2010 - 2nd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2010 - Remenham Challenge Cup, Henley Royal, England
2008 - 8th in the Olympic quad, Beijing, China
2008 - 5th in the W2x, World Cup, Poznan, Poland
2007 - 5th in the W4x, World Championships, Munich, Germany
2006 - Raced at the Commonwealth Regatta
2006 - Raced at the World University Championships
2002-2006 -Raced for the University of Michigan and won two Big 10 Championships and had two top five finishes at the NCAA Championships
2006 - First Team All Big 10 Honoree and Big 10 Sportsmanship Award

 

Women's Pair (2-)

 

Carolyn Ganes

Date of Birth: April 10, 1984
Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Club: Burnaby Lake RC
Education: University of Oregon

2010 - First year on team. Was an alternate on the 2010 Henley/World Cup team.

Other: Played basketball for Oregon and the Canadian National Team program

 

 

 

 

Larissa Lagzdins

Larissa Lagzdins
Birthdate: Nov. 26, 1984
Hometown: Burlington, Ont.
City and country of birth: Ottawa, Ontario
Interests: Singing, Cooking, Crochet and Reading
Education: Honours degree in Child and Youth Studies from Brock University conferred 2007. Diploma in Junior Intermediate Education from The University of Western Ontario conferred June 2010

Club Affiliation: Brock University Rowing Club

Key results:
2010 - 5th in W4- at World University regatta
2009 - 6th in W8+ at World Championships
2006 - 7th in W8+ at U23 World Championships
2005 - 4th in W4- at U23 World Championships

Other info : Working as a French Supply Teacher for the Lambton- Kent District School Board. A member of The Ontario College of Teachers Honours Thesis; Bullying Behaviours of Female Athletes between the Ages of 11-15 was reworked and published in 2009 in the Journal of Sport Psychology.

Women's Double W2x

Kerry Shaffer

Birth date: 01/15/1984
Hometown:  Welland, ON
City and country of birth:  Welland, ON

Interests:  Rowing, music, triathlon, cycling, trail running, and culinary arts.
Education:  Graduated from the University of Virginia with a BA in Music
Club Affiliation: South Niagara Rowing Club

Key results:  
2005 - 4th in the 4- at Under 23 World Championships

Emily Cameron

Birth date: Dec. 05, 1982
Hometown: Summerside, PEI
Rowing Clubs: Don RC/ Winnipeg RC

Education:
B.Sc. Biology, University of Prince Edward Island, 2004
M.Sc. Molecular Anthropology, University of Toronto, 2009

Academic interests: genetic variation within human populations and chronic disease - specifically type 2 diabetes and lifestyle/gene interactions

-First year on senior National Team was 2010 in the women's quad

 

 

 

Alternates:

Jane Thornton

Birth date: July 9, 1978
Hometown: Fredericton, NB
Club affiliation(s): Fredericton Rowing Club, NB; Western Rowing Club, London, ON

Interests: Motivational speaking for various organizations. Research interests: women's health and sports medicine, rowing injuries, endocrinology and respirology. Clinical Research Associate, Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic Athlete Ambassador, Right to Play. Volunteer, Athletes in Action

Education:
Enrolled in the MD program at the University of Toronto
PhD in Sports Medicine (2007, UWO)
MSc in Sports Medicine (2002, UWO)
BSc in Kinesiology (2000, UWO)

Rowing Highlights:
2008 – 4th in the W8+, Olympics, Beijing, China
2008 – 3rd in the W8+, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2008 - 2nd in the W8+, World Cup, Poznan, Poland
2007 – 8th in the W2-, World Championships
2007 - 4th in the W2-, World Cup, Linz, Austria
2006 – 1st in the W2-, World Championships, Eton, England
2006 – 1st in the W2-, World Cup, Munich, Germany
2005 – 7th in the W2x, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
2004 – 9th in the W4-, World Rowing Championships, Banyoles, Spain
2003 – 13th in the W2x, World Rowing Championships, Milan, Italy
2002 - Team Spare, World Rowing Championships, Seville, Spain
2002 – 1st in the W2x and 2nd in the W1x, World University Championships, Nottingham, GBR
2002 – 1st in the W1x and W4x, Commonwealth Rowing Championships, Nottingham, GB

 

Lauren Wilkinson

Birth date: Oct. 17, 1989
Hometown: North Vancouver, BC
City and country of birth: Vancouver, Canada
Club: Burnaby Lake Rowing Club

 

Interests: Hiking, photography, reading, cooking
Academic interests: Research in parasitology and the ecology, evolution, and epidemiology of infectious disease
Education: B.A. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University (2011)

Key results:

2011 - alternate, World Championships, Bled, Slovenia
2011 - 1st in W8+, U23 World Championships, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2010 - 3rd in W8+, U23 World Championships, Brest, Belarus
2009 - 4th in W8+, U23 World Championships, Prague, Czech Republic
2007 - 6th in W1x, Junior World Championships, Beijing, China

Other: 1st in Varsity 8+ for Princeton University, NCAA Championships (2011)
1st Dan Black Belt, Tae Kwon Do (2002)