The Independent Rowing News

Press Release

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), USRowing and the Princeton National Rowing Association (PNRA) announced the continued designation of the Finn M.W. Caspersen Rowing Center as an official U.S. Olympic Training Site for rowing. With the renewal of the training site designation, the Caspersen Rowing Center will continue to play an important role in preparing Team USA for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

“The USOC is grateful for the support of Mercer County Park, West Windsor Township and PNRA as they continue to provide an elite training environment for USRowing’s National Team athletes,” USOC Chief of Sport Performance Mike English said. “It is through communities like this that young people can begin to realize their dreams of becoming an Olympic champion.”

As part of the Nov. 21, 2003, grand opening of the Caspersen Training Center expansion, the USOC first designated the center as an official U.S. Olympic Training Site. The rowing center now has six boathouse bays, locker rooms, an indoor training room, a spectators' tower, office space and a conference room. The internationally certified racecourse includes a seven-lane, fully buoyed course; a three-story finish line tower; boat storage area; dock space; and a spacious finish line viewing area for teams and spectators. 

“The Finn M.W. Caspersen Rowing Center is a critical tool in our preparation and training for the London 2012 Olympic Games,” USRowing Executive Director Glenn Merry said. “We are excited the USOC has recognized the important role and value that PNRA plays in preparing the medalists of tomorrow and awarded them official Olympic designation.”

The Caspersen Rowing Center is located on Mercer County Park’s Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J. Since its creation in the 1970s, Mercer Lake has been recognized as one of the premier rowing venues in the world and as a USRowing Training Site. The lake has played host to the 1988, 1992, 2004 and 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Rowing, in addition to USRowing National Team selection events, international regattas, and both collegiate and junior national championship regattas. The infrastructure and topography of the racecourse meets FISA standards and PNRA has the equipment necessary to host the world's largest regattas.

“It’s a tremendous accomplishment that an Olympic Training Site is located in the heart of Mercer County Park on Lake Mercer,” said Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes. “This is truly a world-class facility with world-class athletes and coaches, and our residents should feel a special pride knowing the road to the Olympic Games for these athletes passes through Mercer County.”

West Windsor Township’s Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh stated, “West Windsor Township is very proud to have the U.S. Olympic Training Site here, and we appreciate the contributions that PNRA has made to our community. They have provided local programs and encouraged residents to be more physically active. We look forward to their continued presence.”

Named for the late Finn M.W. Caspersen, the Caspersen Rowing Center was established in 1998 as a better rowing venue for the Lawrenceville School and the Peddie School. Under the direction of the PNRA, the Caspersen Center expanded in 2002 to become home to the U.S. National Team already training at the site.

“We are excited that we are able to continue our partnership with the United States Olympic Committee, USRowing and the local community to create a world-class venue and training facility where our athletes can prepare for the London Olympic Games,” said Kristopher Grudt, Executive Director of the PNRA. “We take pride in providing the youth of Mercer County with the opportunity to be exposed to Olympic caliber athletes, pursing their dream of making the Olympic team. The values these athletes bring – excellence, discipline and fair play – provide a positive role model for the entire community.”

The mission of the U.S. Olympic Training Sites is to deliver additional resources, services and facilities for athletes and National Governing Bodies (NGBs) while providing an elite athlete training environment that positively impacts performance. With the addition of the Oklahoma River and UCO designations, the USOC now partners with 10 different sites as part of a national training system of world class facilities across the United States. In 2008, more than 1,000 U.S. National Team athletes trained at the sites, which boasted 139 members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams who came away with 12 medals.

About the U.S. Olympic Committee

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the sole entity in the United States whose mission involves training, entering and underwriting the full expenses for the U.S. teams in the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games.  In addition to being the steward of the U.S. Olympic Movement, the USOC is the moving force for support of sports in the United States that are on the program of the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games.

About USRowing

USRowing is a nonprofit organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States. USRowing’s Official Supplier is Boathouse Sports; its Official Eyewear and Helmet Supplier is Rudy Project; its Official Patron is Concept2; its Official Electronics Outfitter is Nielsen Kellerman; and its Official Timer is Powerhouse Timing. USRowing also receives generous support from the National Rowing Foundation.

About the Princeton National Rowing Association

The Princeton National Rowing Association, a 501c3 organization, operates the Finn M.W. Caspersen Rowing Center located on the shores of Mercer Lake in West Windsor, New Jersey.  The Princeton National Rowing Association is dedicated operating a world-class training site for our nation’s elite athletes, providing opportunities for area youth to excel in the sport of rowing and to expand rowing in the greater Mercer County area through community based programs.  PNRA runs the Mercer Junior Rowing Program which provides rowing opportunities for the youth from over 25 Mercer County area high schools. The center is a home to the USRowing National and Olympic Teams, as well as rowing clubs and schools.

For more information, please contact the USOC Communications Division at (719) 866-4529 or visit www.teamusa.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.