KISS THE JOY: the story of Joan Lind Van Blom
The documentary of Joan Lind Van Blom, the first woman to ever win an Olympic medal in rowing (1976), is now available for private screenings! Thousands of women row in the USA today – but 40 years ago, most women weren’t even allowed to join rowing clubs. It was the Cold War and Eastern Bloc countries dominated the sport. There was little hope that the US could be competitive when women’s rowing became a part of the Olympics. Enter Joan Lind, a game-changer who altered the landscape of American rowing, forever. She represents an entire generation of early women rowers who set the bar high for all who followed.
KISS THE JOY is the perfect film for a break from winter training (and every other day of the year)! After earning the Outstanding Achievement in Documentary Film honors at the Newport Beach Film Festival in April 2018, filmmaker Jean Sacconaghi Strauss, herself an accomplished sculler, was able to make the film available for limited screenings in the US with the caveat that all donations directly support the Joan Lind Van Blom Women’s Sculling Endowment at the National Rowing Foundation. Jean is thrilled, as are we, that with new licensing, the film can now be made available to all rowers nationwide. Please consider sharing it with your team or club – or viewing it yourself at home. Donations to the NRF endowment in Joan’s name, while not required, are highly encouraged.
Viewings are free – but as stated above, donations are encouraged (and needed!). Our scullers and rowers today need our support as much as the early women rowers like Joan. Know that 100% of your gift will benefit the Joan Lind Van Blom Endowment for Women’s Sculling at the National Rowing Foundation.
To view the film, simply fill out the form here with your name and email, club or school (state ‘non-affiliated’ if you don’t have one), and the approximate size of the audience. You’ll be provided an online link and password for viewing. Please contact the filmmaker Jean Sacconaghi Strauss at jeanstraussfilms@gmail.com for any additional information or needs.
Note: the film is for non-theatrical, non-broadcast use only.
The National Rowing Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to raising funds to support the U.S. National Rowing Teams. Founded in 1966, the NRF has been supporting Olympic and World Championship athletes for more than four decades. The funds raised support year-round training, development, and competition.