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Engineering Major William Bender '24 Qualifies for US Olympic Rowing Team

Apr 08, 2024   |   Dartmouth Athletics

Engineering sciences major William Bender '24 of the men's heavyweight rowing team, along with Dartmouth alum Oliver Bub '20, qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France by winning the men's pair at the US Olympic and Paralympic Team Trials held in Sarasota, Florida.

Billy Bender '24 and Oliver Bub '20 won the Olympic trials in the men's pair. (Photo courtesy of Dartmouth Rowing)

At the midway point of Sunday's men's pair final, Bender and Bub stood fourth, but they surged ahead over the final 1,000 meters, finishing with a time of 6:54.64—almost three seconds ahead of second place (6:57.37). This past summer, Bender and his pair partner Evan Olson finished fifth at the World Rowing Championships to qualify the boat for the Olympics, allowing Bender and Bub to qualify directly for Paris with Sunday's victory.

"It was definitely slow (conditions). We know it would be a longer race, so you just have to trust the fitness, trust the base speed through the second half."

Billy Bender '24 (credit USRowing)

Link to source:

https://dartmouthsports.com/news/2024/4/7/athletics-multiple-big-green-connections-punch-ticket-to-summer-olympics-in-paris.aspx

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