SARATOGA, NY ( NEWS10 ) — We’re a month away from the Opening Ceremonies of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. If you’re looking for a local tie to root for, look no further than the US women’s rowing team.
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Both Kristi Wagner and Lauren O’Connor are part of the ARION rowing team, training out of the Saratoga Regatta. They’ve also both qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics with Team USA.
Wagner, who will compete in the double sculls, will be heading to her second Olympics, “The rowing aspect of it really isn’t that different,” said Wagner. “We go to World Cups and World Championships and other races and it’s all pretty similar.”
Wagner first went to the Olympics for the 2020 games in Tokyo, which really took place in 2021 under COVID protocols. That experience was a lot different than what they can expect in Paris. “We had to leave within 24 hours of finishing competing,” said Wagner. “We didn’t experience any of, like, going to other events or going to the closing ceremonies or any of those things. So I’m definitely looking forward to hopefully having really, really great racing and then getting to celebrate it.”