Laryssa Biesenthal is one of the more experienced members of the Canadian women's eights crews. She has six world championship medals, an Olympic silver as a member of the quad sculls crew in 1996 and a Pan Am Games champion in double sculls last year.

 "Our crew this year has been working together for a year now and trained harder than ever," said Biesenthal, who worked as an interior designer before taking time off last year to concentrate on the Olympics. "I think we can improve on our bronze medal at the worlds. We also have six returnees from the 1996 crew and that's an incredible turnover."


2000 Games
Sept. 24: Women's eight: Heather McDermid, Calgary; Heather Davis, Vancouver; Dorota Urbaniak, Toronto; Theresa Luke, 100 Mile House, B.C.; Emma Robinson, Winnipeg; Alison Korn, Nepean, Ont.; Laryssa Biesenthal, Walkerton, Ont.; Buffy Alexander, St. Catharines, and Lesley Thompson, London, Ont., won bronze in women's eights finals.
Sept. 20: Women's eight: Heather McDermid, Calgary; Heather Davis, Vancouver; Dorota Urbaniak, Toronto; Theresa Luke, 100 Mile House, B.C.; Emma Robinson, Winnipeg; Alison Korn, Nepean, Ont.; Laryssa Biesenthal, Walkerton, Ont.; Buffy Alexander, St. Catharines, and Lesley Thompson, London, Ont., placed second in repechage heat, advanced to final.
Sept. 18: Women's eight: Heather McDermid, Calgary; Heather Davis, Vancouver; Dorota Urbaniak, Toronto; Theresa Luke, 100 Mile House, B.C.; Emma Robinson, Winnipeg; Alison Korn, Nepean, Ont.; Laryssa Biesenthal, Walkerton, Ont.; Buffy Alexander, St. Catharines, and Lesley Thompson, London, Ont., were second in heat, dropped to repechage.

Photos
Canadian rowers show off their bronze medals
Canadian rowers wave from the podium
Dorota Urbaniak is embraced by Heather McDermid
Dorota Urbaniak, Theresa Luke and Emma Robinson
Dorota Urbaniak is kissed by fiancee Rob Makurat

2000 Games Rowing Coverage