Beijing Bound:Ken Jurkowski; M1x
In our newest weekly segment, Beijing Bound, we will be highlighting some of this years most outstanding oarsmen/women, on their way to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. These athletes have spent nearly a lifetime suffering for their trade and now get to live their dreams of competing on the biggest athletic stage.
Ken Jurkowski born in 1981 in Rhinebeck New York and grew up in New Fairfield, Connecticut a small town nestled comfortably between New Haven and New York on the Long Island sound, once voted among the preppiest places to live (although you wouldn't know it from Jurkowski) and known for its affluence, good public schools, and prime location. There he attended New Fairfield high school and graduated with distinction in 1999.
Accepted to Cornell for his academic acumen, Jurkowski walked on to Cornell's Rowing Program in 1999, and competed at the I.R.A regatta in his first year as the bow man of the 9th place finishing first freshman heavyweight eight. By his sophomore year he had already made the First Varsity boat, and placed 9th at the Eastern Sprints that year. By his senior year he had established himself as a talented and determined oarsmen, stroking his First Varsity Eight into the Grand Final of the IRA for the first time during his 4 year tenure with the Big Red.
Upon graduation, Jurkowski made an immediate impact on the national rowing scene, winning the elite double and finishing second in the Senior Heavyweight Single in 2003. In 2004 he narrowly missed qualifying for the Athens Olympics in the Men's Double, finishing second. He made his first National team in 2005 in the Heavy men's quad which finished 9th at the Gifu World Championships that year. He again traveled with the U.S. National team in 2006 to Eton, England for the World Championships and won bronze in the Men's Heavyweight Eight.
Jurkowski has given a lot back to the rowing community as well. In 2005 he joined the University of Texas women's program as a Volunteer Assistant Coach. In 2007-2008 he somehow found time in his busy schedule to voluntarily assist with the rowing program at the University of Michigan.
Jurkowski sat on the line as a ninth place finisher at the 2008 Lucerne World Cup; he would need to place 3rd or better to qualify for the Olympics. He raced well and rowed through Lithuania's Mindaugas Griskonis in the final 500-m to win the Olympic Qualification regatta in style and become your representative in the Men's single for this year's Beijing Olympics. Above you can watch him winning this year's First National Selection regatta.
Ken Jurkowski born in 1981 in Rhinebeck New York and grew up in New Fairfield, Connecticut a small town nestled comfortably between New Haven and New York on the Long Island sound, once voted among the preppiest places to live (although you wouldn't know it from Jurkowski) and known for its affluence, good public schools, and prime location. There he attended New Fairfield high school and graduated with distinction in 1999.
Accepted to Cornell for his academic acumen, Jurkowski walked on to Cornell's Rowing Program in 1999, and competed at the I.R.A regatta in his first year as the bow man of the 9th place finishing first freshman heavyweight eight. By his sophomore year he had already made the First Varsity boat, and placed 9th at the Eastern Sprints that year. By his senior year he had established himself as a talented and determined oarsmen, stroking his First Varsity Eight into the Grand Final of the IRA for the first time during his 4 year tenure with the Big Red.
Upon graduation, Jurkowski made an immediate impact on the national rowing scene, winning the elite double and finishing second in the Senior Heavyweight Single in 2003. In 2004 he narrowly missed qualifying for the Athens Olympics in the Men's Double, finishing second. He made his first National team in 2005 in the Heavy men's quad which finished 9th at the Gifu World Championships that year. He again traveled with the U.S. National team in 2006 to Eton, England for the World Championships and won bronze in the Men's Heavyweight Eight.
Jurkowski has given a lot back to the rowing community as well. In 2005 he joined the University of Texas women's program as a Volunteer Assistant Coach. In 2007-2008 he somehow found time in his busy schedule to voluntarily assist with the rowing program at the University of Michigan.
Jurkowski sat on the line as a ninth place finisher at the 2008 Lucerne World Cup; he would need to place 3rd or better to qualify for the Olympics. He raced well and rowed through Lithuania's Mindaugas Griskonis in the final 500-m to win the Olympic Qualification regatta in style and become your representative in the Men's single for this year's Beijing Olympics. Above you can watch him winning this year's First National Selection regatta.
Resources:
Row2k.com
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