Michael and Anita Swain competed in the Long Distance Rowing races in Virginia, along with 5,000 other Rowers.
The usual story is that a rower will compete in one grueling Long Distance race at each event. However, Michael Swain competed in three races and Anita Swain in two, totaling 50,000 meters between the two of them.
Michael Swain teamed up with US Rowing partner Col. Tom Riddle for the Men’s Double sculls race and repeated their result of two years ago and won the Silver Medal. This after both had competed against each other 90 minutes earlier in the Singles Races.
Michael Swain said, “We were particularly pleased because all the other crews would have been competing together all year and fine-tuning their technique and tactics; our first outing together was the actual race!”
Michael Swain founded the Bermuda Rowing Association in 2004 has competed most years since then. In 2014 he teamed up with Bermudian Lulu Headstrom to compete at the prestigious Head of the Charles regatta as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations. Headstrom has gone on to row with Stamford University after several top-flight Universities were trying to attract her rowing talents.
Anita Swain teamed up with US rowing partner Robin Quinn to compete in the Women’s Double Sculls over the same course as the Men, and equally grueling.
Michael and Anita then swapped partners to compete against each other in the Mixed Doubles. This kept everything ‘friendly’ as Tom and Robin were the hosts of the Swains!
The event was just south of Washington DC, along the very windy Occoquan river. This makes it particularly difficult for the rowers as they face backwards in the boat, relying on the occasional glance over the shoulder to find the best course to take.
Anita Swain said, “We trained hard for these events as we knew how draining they would be and the fast recovery time needed to get back on the water to do it all over again, and again! We were very lucky with the weather and only faced the headwinds over the final 1,000 meters – just when one is trying to ‘empty the tank’ of any remaining energy and sprinting for the line.”
Michael Swain continued, “I am very proud of Anita as this was her first time competing overseas. To do so well at such a large event is a credit to her training and dedication. The two-person boats are 34 foot long, weigh 59lbs and are 12 inches at their widest. So to balance one of these at full pressure for three long races is quite an achievement.”
