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The Zagunis family has given $500,000 to pay for the embedded scientist called for in USRowing’s high performance plan for the years leading up to the 2028 LA Olympics.
“The Zagunis Family Embedded Scientist will allow the U.S. National Teams to use extensive analytics and data to develop and strengthen our athletes and help us accomplish our goals over the next four years,” USRowing Chief High Performance Officer Josy Verdonkschot said.
“We are incredibly grateful to Robert Zagunis and his family for this gift, which will provide the support our national team athletes and coaches require.”
Verdonkschot, along with U.S. Olympic coaches Casey Galvanek (men’s four) and Michael Callahan (men’s eight) used technology like Peach Innovation’s precision-measurement system as well as data and analysis from Brian deRegt to refine the performance of the two U.S. crews that won medals—gold for the four, bronze for the eight—at the Paris Olympics.
“As I experienced in missing the Olympic finals in ’76 by a bow ball, the margins are slim, and a slight improvement makes a big difference,” said Robert Zagunis, an investment manager who was a member of the U.S. Olympic coxed four at the Montréal Olympics.
USRowing advertised the position with a salary range of $90,000 to $105,000. The online job posting has closed, and Verdonkschot said he hopes to finalize a hire by the end of February or the beginning of March.
