CT Olympians rowing in the wake of history

CT Olympians rowing in the wake of history

The 1924 Yale Olympic rowing crew pictured practicing in Lake Housatonic in New Haven, located on the southern end of the Housatonic River.

New York Public Library

Connecticut will be represented by boat rowers in the upcoming ‘24 Paris Olympics.

That statement holds as much truth now as it did a century ago.

While Paris gets set to host the Olympic Games for the first time in 100 years, so too do boat rowers with roots in Connecticut prepare.

Oliver Bub from Westport, Liam Corrigan from Old Lyme, Kelsey Reelick from Brookfield, and Ben Washburn from Madison will each row in the 2024 Games. Team USA crews will also feature three alumni of Yale rowing: Margaret Hedeman, Kristi Wagner, and Mary Mazzio-Manson.

When the Olympic water contests begin July 27, these Connecticuters will row into the pages of history. The last time Paris hosted the Games in 1924, a Connecticut-based eight-man crew won gold. The “Yale Eight” won in dominant fashion, more than 15 seconds ahead of silver-medalist Canada.

The legendary 1924 crew included several noteworthy oarmen: James Stillman Rockefeller, great-nephew of John D. Rockefeller, attended the Taft School before going on to Yale; Leonard Carpenter, a graduate of The Hotchkiss School, went on to a successful career in the lumber industry; Benjamin Spock, famed pediatrician and author of “Baby and Child Care,” rowed in the seven-seat.

In the archives of the National Rowing Hall of Fame is a letter from Spock to Rusty Wailes, seven-seat in the gold-winning Yale crew of the 1956 Olympics. In the letter Spock shares his experience of the Parisian Games.

The 1924 Yale crew was delayed in departing for France due to a late-season race against Harvard. The team traveled by boat across the Atlantic and Spock recalled their journey: “Four rowing machines were screwed into the boat deck where one of the life boats was swung over the side and we had two hard workouts a day on the rowing machines in addition to doing calisthenics. Gloria Swanson was on board but was not in our party. Our captain [James Rockefeller] met his wife on the boat and between these two extremes various other possibilities were considered.”

Upon arriving at Olympic Village late, the crew found no available housing for them: “The only place we could get in were some huts right near the track and field stadium where we were with the extras of the various teams who had come in late. They were miserable quarters. Our nearest and dearest neighbors were Esthonian weight lifters. The beds were uncomfortable and the mosquitoes terrific. The representative of the Yale Rowing Committee, however, was very nearly murdered in trying to make us feel better by referring to the noise of the taxi horns outside his accommodations at the Ritz Hotel.”

A July 3, 1924, edition of The Lakeville Journal recounts a different arrival for the American athletes who made it on time to Paris:

“Police Hold Back Surging Throngs Around Olympic Stars

Paris — Trim, alert and eager to be up and doing, the American Olympic team arrived in Paris on two special trains from Cherbourg. They presented a fine spectacle as they descended from the trains, and groups of French fans who assembled out of curiosity broke into cheers of enthusiasm as the young Americans [section damaged] the quays to the wailing cars. All are reported in fine condition.”

Spock goes on to describe the medal race on the Seine River on a sweltering hot day just past where “the sewers emptied out.” He ultimately recalls winning gold and angering the French by refusing to attend a champagne party. He ends with words of encouragement for the 1956 team:

“Having seen your crew a week ago, however, it does not disturb me in the least to say that you must be a faster crew...Let me urge all of you to the extent that time permits to make a hobby of rowing.”

Yale crews went on to win gold in the 1956 Melbourne Games in both Men’s Eight and Men’s Pair.

A Parisian summer awaits the current generation of Olympian rowers from Connecticut. Supporters of the stars and stripes will do well to echo the urge of Spock that the 2024 oarsmen “make a hobby of rowing.”


Note: Connecticut will be represented by several non-rowers in the 2024 Olympics as well.

Latest News

Stanford residents seek answers on proposed Cold Spring elementary school closure

Cold Spring Elementary School on Homan Road in Stanford.

Photo by Nathan Miller

STANFORD — A new citizen's advisory board is forming after locals' strong response to the Pine Plains Central School District's plans to close the elementary school in Stanford in an effort to "right-size" the district's facilities to match enrollment.

Stanford Town Hall will host an informational meeting on Wednesday, March 4, at 6 p.m. for residents interested in learning more about a newly formed committee that will guide the district in right-sizing plans. Dubbed the Building Utilization Advisory Committee, it was established earlier this year after parents in the district called for greater scrutiny for plans to shutter Cold Spring Early Learning Center on Homan Road in Stanford.

Keep ReadingShow less
Webutuck Sectionals appearance ends with 50-45 loss

Webutuck sophomore Hayden Whiteley, center, battles for a layup during the Section IX Tournament pre-lims on Saturday, Feb. 28.

Photo by Nathan Miller

AMENIA — Webutuck’s first appearance in the Section IX tournament in more than a decade ended in the preliminary round Saturday, Feb. 28, with a hard-fought 50-45 loss to S.S. Seward Institute.

Webutuck hosted the game, with local spectators and visitors filling the bleachers in the gym for the first round of the Sectional tournament. S.S. Seward opened up scoring in the game, racking up 10 points in the first quarter.

Keep ReadingShow less
'We need more daycare' — rural parents say

Dutchess County Legislator Chris Drago addresses the crowd at the end of a discussion on challenges facing parents and child care providers in rural northeast Dutchess County on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Drago hosted the forum to collect feedback from local stakeholders ahead of an expected $20 million in state funding to establish a universal childcare program in the county.

Photo by Nathan Miller

PINE PLAINS — Parents and child care leaders gathered Wednesday, Feb. 25, to discuss concerns about early child care access and affordability in the rural northeast corner of Dutchess County.

County legislator Chris Drago, who represents the towns of North East, Pine Plains, Stanford, Milan and Red Hook, hosted the event at the Stissing Center on Church Street to seek community feedback following news about a proposed pilot program that would expand funding for child care, particularly for children under three, in Dutchess County.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Classifieds - February 26, 2026

Classifieds - February 26, 2026

Help Wanted

PART-TIME CARE-GIVER NEEDED: possibly LIVE-IN. Bright private STUDIO on 10 acres. Queen Bed, En-Suite Bathroom, Kitchenette & Garage. SHARON 407-620-7777.

The Salisbury Association’s Land Trust seeks part-time Land Steward: Responsibilities include monitoring easements and preserves, filing monitoring reports, documenting and reporting violations or encroachments, and recruiting and supervising volunteer monitors. The Steward will also execute preserve and trail stewardship according to Management Plans and manage contractor activity. Up to 10 hours per week, compensation commensurate with experience. Further details and requirements are available on request. To apply: Send cover letter, resume, and references to info@salisburyassociation.org. The Salisbury Association is an equal opportunity employer.

Keep ReadingShow less
To save birds, plant for caterpillars

Fireweed attracts the fabulous hummingbird sphinx moth.

Photo provided by Wild Seed Project

You must figure that, as rough as the cold weather has been for us, it’s worse for wildlife. Here, by the banks of the Housatonic, flocks of dark-eyed juncos, song sparrows, tufted titmice and black-capped chickadees have taken up residence in the boxwood — presumably because of its proximity to the breakfast bar. I no longer have a bird feeder after bears destroyed two versions and simply throw chili-flavored birdseed onto the snow twice a day. The tiny creatures from the boxwood are joined by blue jays, cardinals and a solitary flicker.

These birds will soon enough be nesting, and their babies will require a nonstop diet of caterpillars. This source of soft-bodied protein makes up more than 90 percent of native bird chicks’ diets, with each clutch consuming between 6,000 and 9,000 caterpillars before they fledge. That means we need a lot of caterpillars if we want our bird population to survive.

Keep ReadingShow less
Stephanie Haboush Plunkett and the home for American illustration

Stephanie Haboush Plunkett

L. Tomaino
"The field of illustration is very close to my heart"
— Stephanie Plunkett

For more than three decades, Stephanie Haboush Plunkett has worked to elevate illustration as a serious art form. As chief curator and Rockwell Center director at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, she has helped bring national and international attention to an art form long dismissed as merely commercial.

Her commitment to illustration is deeply personal. Plunkett grew up watching her father, Joseph Haboush, an illustrator and graphic designer, work late into the night in his home studio creating art and hand-lettered logos for package designs, toys and licensed-character products for the Walt Disney Co. and other clients.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.