TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner, Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman and Assemblyman Reed Gusciora presented the U.S. Men’s Rowing Team with a Legislative Resolution commending the team on their gold medal performance in the men’s eights rowing competition at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
“The Olympics gives the entire country a chance to get behind the finest American athletes every four years,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “For those two weeks, there is only one team any of us cares about – Team USA. This year, New Jersey residents got a special treat as our favorite sons, the US Rowing Team, brought home the gold.”
The 2004 Olympic Games were the first time that the U.S. eight-man rowing team had won the gold medal in 40 years. Besides winning the gold, they also set a new world record during the preliminary rounds.
“Our Olympic athletes are among the best role models we have for our youth,” said Watson Coleman (D-Ewing). “The success of our home-grown Olympic rowers should rightfully be an inspiration to student athletes throughout Mercer County, teaching that practice, hard work, and dedication, can make dreams of gold come true.”
The full 45-member team trains in Princeton, sharing their facilities with Princeton University. One member of the team, Jason Read, is a native of New Jersey. Currently living in Ringoes, he is chief of the Amwell Valley Rescue Squad, a firefighter in Hopewell and a 9-1-1 dispatcher in Trenton, who play a central role in coordinating rescue and treatment during the 9/11 recovery efforts.
“Princeton has long been known as the birthplace of scholars – and now we can add world-class athletes to that resume,” said Gusciora (D-Princeton). “The pride in the tremendous achievements of these athletes – honed on the waters of Lake Carnegie –goes far beyond the boathouse and is felt by every resident who supported these Olympians.”