junior rowing news
Article on Sponsorship by Colgan Scholar Isabel Llabres Diaz
Colgan Scholars are an integral part of Colgan Foundation’s mission. These scholars must strive for academic excellence, be active in their school and community, as well as extend kindness and support towards their peers. Currently, CF sponsors Colgan Scholars at several elementary and high schools in the Philadelphia area as well as collegiate rowers in the US and UK.
One of CF’s current scholars, Harvard student Isabel Llabres Diaz, authored this recent article on Junior Rowing News. She also received recognition in JRN as being one of the top collegiate rowers to watch. Read the article here.
SUSTAIN: PLANT-BASED FOODS FOR ACTIVE PEOPLE
New Zealand Olympians Collaborate on Cookbook
Written by Olympic silver medalists Brooke Donoghue Francis and Luuka Jones together with sport nutritionist Christel Dunshea-Mooij, Sustain: Plant-Based Foods for Active People proposes a plant-based nutrition plan that is not only ideal for performance but for the planet. Some of our favorites: Savoury French Toast, Mushroom and Leek Risotto, and Raw Carrot Cake. The authors also share great tips on endurance, recovery, and stress reduction. Sustain is available from New Zealand retailers; support CF athletes and the planet while you eat great food!
INTERNATIONAL SNOWBOARD AND SKI FOUNDATION (FIS)
El Salvador Makes Nordic Ski Debut in Galaa, Norway
“An associate member of FIS since 1998 with only one alpine skier in 2007-2008, El Salvador is now making its mark on the Para Nordic world map. This initiative is spearheaded by the international non-profit organization ONETEAMCF.org through its El Salvadoran chapter ONETEAMSV.org, which has partnered with the El Salvadoran Olympic and Paralympic Committees to develop a dual-sport, dual-season national para-surf and para-ski team.
Two members of the newly established El Salvador Ski Federation, both sit-skiers, David Chavez and Jonathan Arias, competed for the first time in Para Nordic Skiing at the Continental Cup in Gaalaa (NOR) last weekend. Both athletes participated in the 1.2km Sprint competition, with David Chavez ranking 20th and Jonathan Arias 21st. Their coach, Rob Powers, explained, “It was their fifth day ever on snow!” Read the entire article here.
JUNIOR ROWING NEWSHOCR 2023: Women’s Championship Eight Preview
“…After being the first British crew to win the event last year, Leander Club are back in Boston to defend their title. With the backing of the Colgan Foundation, the Henley-based club are able to tour the globe taking on the best the world has to offer. This crew will be from the top end of their women’s squad filled with those that will be aiming for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. With graduates from high-achieving universities from both sides of the Atlantic, they will be looking to repeat the events of last year as they head the field…” Read the entire article here.
JUNIOR ROWING NEWSHOCR 2023: “The British are Coming”
“…HOCR is a rare chance to see international standard crews such as the US National Eights or the Danish National Women’s Eight be tested by top-level club crews on a course which punishes any error and can throw up some eye-catching results.
As to whether this trend is set to continue, we can expect to see Leander return to HOCR for at least the next decade thanks to support from its new sponsor, The Colgan Foundation. St. Paul’s School Boat Club also appears to be becoming a reasonably regular attendee and so I would expect these clubs to lead the way and spark growing interest from other British clubs…” Read the entire article here.
ROWING NEWS
“I Believe in Results”
When the news came that the Colgan Foundation had signed an agreement to support the UK’s Leander Club, there was some grumbling to the tune of “Why not support American athletes?” It was perhaps an understandable complaint, seeing how the Colgan Foundation is directed primarily by Seán Colgan and his wife, Bibi. Seán is an American who rowed at Penn and was a member of 10 National Teams—junior, lightweight, and heavyweight; sweep and sculling. He was bowman of the U.S. men’s eight that would have represented us in the 1980 Olympics had there not been a boycott. Why support our competitors? Read the entire article here.
hear the boat sing
Leander Welcomes Colgan Foundation Sponsorship
In June 2023, Leander Club in Henley-on-Thames announced a new sponsorship deal with Colgan Foundation, which will be starting immediately and continuing for five years. This partnership is targeted directly at the Leander rowing programme, supporting the development of our young rowers in their search for personal improvement and for international success. Read the entire article here.
UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION
Wheelchair Tennis Pro Jason Keatseangsilp
Colgan Foundation is pleased to sponsor Jason Keatseangsilp. When a fall from a climbing pole resulted in T11-T12 paraplegia, Keatseangsilp thought there was no way he could compete in tennis at the most elite level. But after 10 years and over 10,000 hours of practice, he found himself playing in the 2022 U.S. Open. Read the article here.
Junior Rowing News
Henley Women’s Regatta Preview
The Colgan Foundation Cup for Aspirational Academic Eights gives university crews a good opportunity to test their speed against one another, although at a relatively shorter distance than the 2km races that usually dominate regatta season. Read the entire article here.
THE BOOK OF TED: OLYMPIAN, COACH, MENTOR TED A. NASH
Sean Colgan Publishes Compilation of Remembrances of Olympic and UPenn Rowing Coach Ted A. Nash
The Book of Ted is a fascinating compilation of motivational, heartfelt, humorous anecdotes from dozens of men and women who were coached or touched by “Ted.” This full-color, coffee-table book features rarely seen photographs and race plans, letters, and speeches from over the decades. The Book of Ted is by Sean Colgan, who was coached by Ted for fourteen years through Penn and eight national teams and Olympics. Ted's legacy and lessons will resonate with anyone in the rowing community and beyond. Learn more about the book and order a copy here.
NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE OF BUILDING SURVEYORS
‘A future of innovation’: Sean Colgan at the NZIBS 2022 Riding the Wave Conference in Tauranga
Sean Colgan, who serves as the Chairman, Owner and Founder of International Materials – a minerals trading company, and Chairman, Co-Founder and majority owner of Synthetic Materials – the largest processor of synthetic gypsum in the United States – has decades of experience in the trading sector and was on hand to share his insights with attendees at the NZIBS 2022 Riding the Wave Conference in Tauranga. Read the entire article on pp 6-7 of the NZIBS Newsletter here.
MERCANTILE ROWING CLUB
Bibi Colgan and Patrick Boomer race at the World Coastals
Published October 9, 2022: Mercs has two members racing at the World Coastals, Bibi Colgan and Patrick Boomer. Bibi [second from right] is racing for New Zealand and Patrick for Ireland. Both Bibi and Patrick have qualified for the A finals.
Sean Colgan is already talking up an international event on Port Phillip in January 2023. Time to get into coastal rowing.
COLGAN FOUNDATION PARASURF TRAINING CENTER
The Colgan Foundation Parasurf Training Center, located in Surf City, El Salvador, will be open to the public in 2023.
ORBITA TV
ONETEAMCF Athlete Jonathan Arias becomes the first Salvadoran to compete in the Para Surfing World Championship
At the Pismo Beach ISA World Para Surfing Championship, El Salvador's Jonathan Arias became the first and only surfer from his country to have competed in the history of the event.
Fox Business
Purple Heart recipient climbs 7 highest summits
U.S. Army veteran Benjamin Breckheimer on what inspired him to climb the 7 highest summits.
CBS 58
Natalie's Everyday Heroes: Benjamin Breckheimer becomes first Purple Heart recipient to climb Seven Summits
A few weeks ago, CBS 58 introduced you to Army veteran and Menomonee Falls native, Benjamin Breckheimer. He set a goal to become the first Purple Heart recipient to climb the highest mountain on all seven continents. This month, he set out to finish that journey.
Military Times
Lowest depth to highest peak: How a wounded Army vet climbed the Seven Summits
Only one person has climbed the tallest peak on all seven continents and also have been wounded in combat and received the Purple Heart - Benjamin Breckheimer.
Steamboat Pilot & Today
Powers family gives to others through work in El Salvador
Dr. Laila Powers spends up to 10 weeks each year helping to improve health and stability for residents in El Salvador.
Cision PR newswire
Law School Competitions Program Receives Impactful Donor Support
New England Law | Boston recently received a sizable donation from the Colgan Foundation to support the school's Advocacy and Skills Competitions Program. With this generous contribution—the first of its kind to fund this program—the law school will be able to expand upon existing teams, participate in additional competitions, and get more students involved. The program will also be renamed in the foundation's honor.
EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN PODCAST
Dr. Stephen Kajiura on Increasing Number of “Encounters” with Great White Sharks
It's Shark Week on 'Everything Under the Sun'! Dean DeVore welcomes Dr. Stephen Kajiura, Professor, Biological Sciences at Florida Atlantic University, to discuss the increasing number of “encounters” with great white sharks along both the east and west coasts this summer, and the role of climate change in recent shark migrations.
NEW ZEALAND HERALD
Sean Colgan Featured in New Zealand Herald Article on Olympic Gold–Winning Rowing Team
Chris Rattue, NZ Herald, August 13, 2021: "It wasn’t just the physical training which kicked in. Sean Colgan, a former American Olympic rower and businessman who lives in New Zealand, is the major backer of the eight. Now and then, he would join a team barbecue, bringing up “half a deer” as [rowing great and team member Hamish] Bond puts it, from his Hawke’s Bay farm. Colgan helped instil an ethos of “wanting to win, but not needing to win.” Bond says: “If you need to win, it adds a different layer and level of pressure on yourself, which can feed into your technique. We were in a place where we could say we are going to do it this way, we think it will work, but because we don’t need to win, we were able to dial back the level of freneticness which can creep into an Olympic final.”