Jeff Powell sat in the stroke seat (the rower next to the coxswain) in Canada’s men’s eight in their golden performances at the last two world championships. He switched from basketball to rowing in 1996 while living in Winnipeg. He studied economics at the University of Manitoba and completed his masters at the University of Western Ontario. He also rowed for both schools. He moved to Victoria in 2001 and made the men’s eight team that year.
Powell credits the early coaching he received in Manitoba and timing for his success in the sport. When he arrived in Victoria the program was in a down period before coach Mike Spracklen returned to the scene.
Canada hasn’t lost in men’s eight since 2002 and that includes World Cup wins this year in Switzerland and Germany. Powell says the Canadian crew gained valuable experience by competing under pressure at the worlds last year as the defending champion. He expects the opposition in Athens in particular the arch-rival Americans to be gunning for them at the Olympics.
