This past summer, two members of the Kent community competed in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Christine Roper (08’) rowed in the Women’s Coxed eight for Canada, and Alex Karwoski, formerly of the Admissions Office and a former Kent coach, rowed in the Men’s coxed eight for the United States.

Roper’s rowing career began at Kent when she was fourteen years old. She graduated in 2008 and continued to row at the University of Virginia. In 2010, she started competing internationally in the women’s coxed eight and in the un-coxed four. From 2010 to 2015, she won a medal at the U23 world championships and later at the IRA World championships, and at the Rio Olympics, Roper’s boat placed fifth.

Alex Karwoski coached the Kent boys second boat in 2013. He began rowing in high school and was a member of the Cornell University heavyweight team from 2008 to 2012. From 2012, he rowed in a number of international events and joined Roper in Rio, where his boat placed 4th in the Olympics.