By Duncan Mackay

Erin O'Connell has been elected as the first female Presidet of USRowing ©USRowingMarch 26 - USRowing's Board of Directors have elected Erin O'Connell as its first female President, it was announced today. 


O'Connell, director of athletics and senior women's administrator at Seattle Pacific University, had been the women's vice-chair.

She succeeds Peter Cipollone, cox of the 2004 Olympic gold medal-winning United States men's eight.

O'Connell was chosen by the USRowing Board of Directors, who elected a total of three female officers at its meeting in Tampa. 

O'Connell is the first female President of the USRowing Board of Directors since the organisation was formed in 1982 by the merger of the National Association of Amateur Oarsmen, founded in 1872, and the National Women's Rowing Association, established in the early 1960s.

Before taking over as women's vice-chair in 2013, O'Connell had been an at-large representative.

"I am honoured to assume the role of President of the USRowing Board of Directors," said O'Connell.

"As a Board, we are charged with executing the USRowing mission statement, to provide ongoing opportunities to achieve excellence in rowing in the United States."

O'Connell will work alongside Glenn Merry, chief executive of USRowing, and Frances Mennone, elected as secretary, and Esther Lofgren who will continue as treasurer.

"We'll continue to work with Glenn to ensure the organisation moves forward in a healthy capacity with an eye towards Rio [2016], while concurrently looking to enrich domestic rowing opportunities."

The United States finished sixth overall in the rowing medals table at London 2012.

They won a total of six medals, including a gold in the women's coxed eight. 

The United States won one Olympic gold medal at London 2012 with the women's coxed eight triumphing ©Getty ImagesAmerica won one Olympic gold medal at London 2012 with the women's coxed eight triumphing ©Getty Images

Before joining Seattle Pacific University, O'Connell had spent seven seasons as an assistant coach with the University of Washington women's rowing team, coaching them three consecutive Pac-10 Championships between 1999 and 2001.

A native of San Francisco, O'Connell received her bachelor's degree in English from Washington in 1996.

She completed her master's degree in sports administration at Seattle Pacific.

O'Connell had an outstanding competitive career from 1993 until 1996 as a cox on the Washington rowing team.

She directed crews to three Pac-10 Championships and collected a bronze medal at the NCAA Championships.

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