The dream of qualifying to compete in a rowing event at the Olympic Games has been realized by Gabe Bergen of 108 Mile House.
The 30-year-old elite athlete has earned a seat in the men’s eight. His teammates are Jeremiah Brown (Cobourg, Ont.), Andrew Byrnes (Toronto, Ont.), Will Crothers (Kingston, Ont.), Douglas Csima (Oakville, Ont.), Robert Gibson (Kingston), Malcolm Howard (Victoria), Conlin McCabe (Brockville, Ont.) and Brian Price (Belleville, Ont.).
The team will compete at the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games, which opens on July 27 and closes Aug. 8.
“It feels great to be officially named to the men’s Olympic eight,” says Bergen. “I have been working towards this goal for four years, so it’s nice to finally be here.”
Bergen will be following in the footsteps of his father, Bob Bergen, who competed at the Montreal 1976 Olympics in the men’s pair event. Bob later spent many years working as a schoolteacher in the South Cariboo.
“My dad’s experience at the Olympics is one of the main reasons I decided to pursue rowing in the first place,” says Gabe.
He adds basketball had been his first choice as a varsity sport, but while attending University of Victoria, he decided to try something else that might lead him to the national level.
“Because Bob did rowing, I thought I’d try rowing.”
Both his dad, and his mom, Marilyn Bergen, and brothers, Karel and Robbie Bergen, will be at the Olympic Games, cheering him on at each race, as will a couple of close friends from home.
“My dad has given me advice from his own experiences that has helped me over the years and I am definitely happy he will be there in person to watch the event.”
The Canadian men’s eight goes to the London Olympics as the defending champion and is considered a favourite to win, especially after setting a new world record at a World Cup event in May. Gabe was a member of that record-setting team.
