Former Trinity Rowing Captain Peter Graves '07 Named To 2012 U.S. Olympic Team

Hartford, Conn. - Peter Graves '07, former captain of the Trinity College men's rowing team and the College's 2007 Senior Male Athlete of the Year (George Sheldon McCook Trophy), has been selected by USRowing to represent the United States in the quadruple sculls at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England. The Olympics run from July 28 to August 5 and the rowing events will take place in Eton, England on Dorney Lake.

The United States men's quadruple sculls lineup at the Olympics will consist of Alex Osborne (Sherman Oaks, Calif.), Peter Graves (Cincinnati, Ohio), Elliot Hovey (Manchester-By-The-Sea, Mass.) and Wes Piermarini (West Brookfield, Mass.). Selection for team was determined based on lineup evaluations, national selection regatta results and training camp performance in Chula Vista, Calif., under U.S. head coach Tim McLaren. In total, 12 crews will represent the United States in London. For more information about important USRowing dates, the 2012 Olympic Games selection process and Olympic athlete bios, visit www.usrowing.org.

At Trinity, Graves led the Bantams to varsity-eight gold medals in the 2004 and 2005 Head of the Charles Regattas in Cambridge, Mass., the 2005 San Diego Crew Classic, the 2005 Temple Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta, and the 2006 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) National Regatta. His Trinity crews captured three consecutive New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) from 2005 to 2007. As a freshman, Graves was a semifinalist in the double sculls at the 2004 Henley Royal Regatta, and he won a gold medal in the event in 2005 in the USRowing National Championships.

Graves is in elite company at Trinity, joining two former standout Bantams that went on to represent the United States in the Olympics. Alex Guild'61 was a member of the U.S. National Soccer team in the 1960 Olympics, and Christine Smith Collins '91 won a bronze medal with rowing partner Sarah Garner in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, while competing in the women's lightweight double skulls race.

Graves, the son of Lynne and Harry Graves, majored in economics at Trinity. His father, Harry, older brother Tom, and younger brother John all rowed for Trinity. John also played soccer for Trinity, where he was the recipient of the prestigious George Sheldon McCook Award in 2010.

This is not the first time Peter Graves will be representing the United States in an international rowing competition. In 2009, he finished 16th overall in the double skulls at the World Rowing Championships. In 2006, Graves and Brian deRegt '09 were each selected to the U.S. Rowing Under-23 National Team. The duo represented the United States at the 2006 FISA World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Hazewinkel, Belgium, where Graves finished 16th overall in the double skulls. Graves won the double sculls at the 209 and 2011 World Championships Trials, and the championship double at the 2008 Head of the Charles.


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