OLYMPICS-BRAZIL/ROWING Olympic medallist Anita DeFrantz holds rowing masterclass for Brazilian athletes
Record ID:
332347
OLYMPICS-BRAZIL/ROWING Olympic medallist Anita DeFrantz holds rowing masterclass for Brazilian athletes
- Title: OLYMPICS-BRAZIL/ROWING Olympic medallist Anita DeFrantz holds rowing masterclass for Brazilian athletes
- Date: 27th February 2015
- Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (FEBRUARY 27, 2015) (REUTERS) OLYMPIC MEDALLIST AND INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) BOARD MEMBER, ANITA DEFRANTZ, PREPARING TO SET OFF IN A ROWING BOAT ON THE RODRIGO DE FREITAS LAKE WITH YOUNG BRAZILIAN ATHLETES VARIOUS OF DEFRANTZ ROWING WITH YOUNG BRAZILIAN ATHLETES OTHER ROWERS PASSING ACROSS THE LAKE VARIOUS OF DEFRANTZ ROWING WITH YOUNG BRAZILIAN ATHLETES CHRIST THE REDEEMER STATUE SEEN FROM THE LAKE (SOUNDBITE) (English) OLYMPIC MEDALLIST AND INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) BOARD MEMBER, ANITA DEFRANTZ, SAYING: "It was a great privilege to be back on the water with rowers who could be maybe my grandchildren, and they know how to row. It made it possible for me to feel the sense of the boat again, to be out in the course where the Olympic regatta will be will be just exhilarating." DEFRANTZ SPEAKING TO YOUNG BRAZILIAN ATHLETES DEFRANTZ AND ATHLETES LIFTING THE BOAT ON TO THE DOCK DEFRANTZDEFRANTZ Z SPEAKING WITH MEN AT THE ROWING CLUB A GIRL ROWING ON A PRACTICE MACHINE, DEFRANTZ SEEN IN THE BACKGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (English) OLYMPIC MEDALLIST AND INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) BOARD MEMBER, ANITA DEFRANTZ, SAYING: "You're supposed to keep your eyes in the boat on the person in front of you, but I did peek out and I saw crowds of people shouting for the athletes and praising them. I could see the gorgeous Jesus up on the mountain and I could feel that this is going to be a remarkable venue for rowing." DEFRANTZ SPEAKING TO A CROWD OF YOUNG ATHLETES ATHLETES LISTENING TO DEFRANTZ DEFRANTZ SPEAKING TO CROWD MOUNTAINS SURROUNDING THE LAKE
- Embargoed: 14th March 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Brazil
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA3A6C9Y1RN63XDUTHHPF5VUJM5
- Story Text: Olympic medallist Anita DeFrantz, held a rowing masterclass for young Brazilian athletes on Friday (February 27) on the picturesque Rodrigo de Freitas lake in Rio de Janeiro where the rowing regatta will be held during the 2016 Olympic Games.
DeFrantz won Bronze as part of the U.S. rowing team competing in the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, and in 1986 became the first woman elected to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
DeFrantz states that through her opposition to the US Olympic boycott of the 1980 Games and her post as president of the Los Angeles Olympic Organising Committee, she has sought to give back so that others can benefit from access to sport.
Using the opportunity of the IOC Executive Board visit to Rio de Janeiro, DeFrantz revelled in the chance to give back to young athletes from the next host city, training at the Botafogo Rowing Club.
"It was a great privilege to be back on the water with rowers who could be maybe my grandchildren, and they know how to row. It made it possible for me to feel the sense of the boat again, to be out in the course where the Olympic regatta will be will be just exhilarating," DeFrantz told Reuters at the masterclass on Friday.
As well as engaging in several planning meetings with the IOC regarding operations for the Games, for DeFrantz, the visit was a chance to capture a sense of the atmosphere which will be felt in 2016.
"You're supposed to keep your eyes in the boat on the person in front of you, but I did peek out and I saw crowds of people shouting for the athletes and praising them. I could see the gorgeous Jesus up on the mountain and I could feel that this is going to be a remarkable venue for rowing," said DeFrantz.
The IOC Executive Board will continue to meet in Rio until Saturday (February 28).
The IOC earlier this week said Rio is entering "the most intense period of preparations" as the city is busy trying to get its Olympic Park and other infrastructure projects ready in time for the games to start on August 5 of 2016. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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