June 27, 2008

LMU rowing alumnus Warren Anderson '06 continued his quest to become the first Lion rower to compete at an Olympic Games when he was named an alternate for the 2008 United States Olympic Rowing team, it was announced Friday. Anderson will serve as an alternate for one of USRowing's two sculls boats.

Anderson, who starred for the Lions from 2003-06, previously rowed for the US National Team at the 2007 Pan American Games, where he brought home a bronze medal as a member of the quadruple sculls boat. For Anderson, it is a remarkable achievement for a rower who is not trained in sculling to be on the cusp of the Olympic team. Anderson had never sculled until he completed his college career at LMU two years ago. Sculling is a form of rowing in which each athlete uses two oars (one in each hand) as opposed to sweep rowing (one oar per athlete), which is used in all collegiate competition.

"I am very happy and excited for Warren. He has worked so hard for this opportunity and it is great to hear that he was selected to travel with the team," LMU Varsity Men's Coach Brooks Jones said.

Thirteen crews will represent the United States at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The 45-person U.S. roster includes 10 multiple-time Olympians with six Olympic medals. The U.S. will have crews competing in the women's single sculls, men's single sculls, women's double sculls, men's double sculls, lightweight women's double sculls, women's quadruple sculls, men's quadruple sculls, women's pair, men's pair, men's four, lightweight men's four, women's eight and men's eight.

Rowing at the 2008 Olympic Games begins August 9 and runs through August 17. Finals are set for August 16-17. The competition will take place at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park, located in Mapo Town in the Shunyi district of Beijing. The rowing course is located about 45 kilometers outside of downtown Beijing. The venue also will host the flat-water and slalom canoe-kayak competitions.