The 2018 Golden Oars Gala will see exciting changes, as the National Rowing Foundation (NRF) and USRowing shift the focus of the event towards a celebration of the 2018 national teams and their accomplishments.
Proceeds from the evening will support our national team athletes as they prepare for next year’s three world championships and the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020.
As in the past, the 2018 Golden Oars will honor the Male and Female Athletes of the Year, selected by the members of the 2018 World Rowing Championships squad, as well as the USRowing Medal of Honor recipient.
For the first time, USRowing also will honor an Under 23 Male and Female Athlete of the Year and a Junior Male and Female Athlete of the Year, selected by their respective teams.
Robert Milam, John Brisson, Esq., and Jo Hannafin M.D., Ph.D., will serve as the co-chairs for the 2018 Golden Oars Gala.
“This new format solidifies the importance of celebrating and supporting our junior, under 23 and senior national teams,” said Mara Ford, Executive Director of the National Rowing Foundation. “Golden Oars is the perfect opportunity for us to honor our athletes and their success this summer during international competition.”
The U.S. is in the midst of a historic summer that has already seen its teams top the gold-medal standings at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships and overall medal table at the World Rowing Junior Championships. The under 23 team set U.S. records by winning five gold medals and eight total medals, while the junior team came away with two gold medals and seven total medals – both U.S. records.
The 2018 World Rowing Championships squad, including a record seven para-rowing crews, is set to leave for Plovdiv, Bulgaria, later this week. The team is looking to build off its 2017 performance and is primed to bring home additional world championships’ hardware.
Scheduled for Thursday, November 15, at the New York Athletic Club’s Manhattan location, the 2018 Golden Oars also will serve as a chance to support the U.S. national teams’ efforts through our annual silent auction, live auction and “raise your paddle” portion of the evening. Tickets will go on sale September 10 and sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting the National Rowing Foundation’s Tracy Brown at tracy@natrowing.org. Additional details on the event will be available shortly.
“Our national teams are in the midst of an outstanding summer, building a strong foundation as we focus on the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and beyond,” said USRowing Chief Executive Officer Patrick McNerney. “Golden Oars is a great opportunity to celebrate our 2018 successes and to continue to build the foundational support for our athletes as they train to represent our sport and our country. We look forward to honoring our athletes in New York City in November.”
The remaining annual awards will be presented at the USRowing’s Annual Awards Celebration held in December in San Diego in conjunction with the USRowing Annual Convention, while the Fan’s Choice Awards will be recognized virtually through our digital platforms.