June 22, 2012

USRowing release

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford Men's Rowing will boast four Olympians this summer in London as alumnus Alex Osborne '09 was named to the U.S. quadruple sculls boat (4x), USRowing announced Friday.

Osborne, who will make his Olympic debut in London, joins fellow Stanford graduates David Banks '05 and Jake Cornelius '05, who will be on the U.S. men's eight, and Silas Stafford '08, who qualified as part of the U.S. men's pair at the Olympic Trials last week.

The quartet makes Stanford the most-represented program amongst U.S. men's rowers at the Games, and it matches Stanford Men's Rowing's largest contingent since the Cardinal sent four rowers to both the 1952 Helsinki and 1956 Melbourne Games.

Banks and Cornelius will also be the first Stanford men's rowers to compete as part of the U.S. eight at an Olympic Games.

"Stanford University fosters thoughtful risk and extreme goals," said Stanford men's rowing head coach Craig Amerkhanian, who has now coached 18 Olympians since 2000. "Jake, David, Silas and Alex utilized all that Stanford University offered. Each has reached their destination goal that began on this campus: London and the 2012 Olympic Games. 'All Right Now' for our Stanford Men's Rowing 2012 U.S. Olympians."

Selection for the men's quad was determined based on lineup evaluations, national selection regatta results and training camp performance in Princeton, N.J., and Chula Vista, Calif., under U.S. head coaches Tom Terhaar and Tim McLaren.

Osborne will row in the quad for the first time in a major international competition this summer. He had previously rowed with the eight at the World Championships last September, as well as competing at a pair of Under-23 World Championships for the U.S. eight, winning gold in 2008 and placing fourth in 2007.

Rowing competition at the London Games begins July 28 at Eton Dorney Rowing Centre at Dorney Lake.