Help Us Get to Rio
We (Sydney Taylor and Keara Twist) are excited and honored to have the chance to compete for the USA at the Pan American Qualification Regatta in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on November 29- December 2, 2018.
The Pan American Games is held every four years in the year before the Summer Olympic Games. It presents an opportunity for competition among all the countries in the Americas. For the first time, the Pan American Rowing Confederation is requiring that all boats qualify for their spots at the Pan American Games through a qualification regatta.
We were awarded the opportunity to compete as the women's lightweight double for Team USA through racing at the USRowing trials in August. Placing top 8 at the Qualification Regatta would qualify us to compete at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru in 2019.
While the Pan American Games themselves are fully funded, all travel and other costs associated with the qualification regatta are completely self funded.
Competing internationally and striving to compete at the highest level of our sport has been a dream that we dedicate our time, effort and hearts to. Due to the high cost associated with both the sport and international travel we need your help to make this dream a reality.
Our fundraising goals include airfare, accommodation, boat rental and visas for ourselves and our coach. Our estimated cost is approximately$13,000. We are actively looking for ways to reduce this cost.
Total cost breakdown:
Accommodation: $4,500 (paid to USRowing)
Flights: $7,000
Boat Rental: $500 -- depending on how we are able to secure boat rental
Visas: $140
Oar Transport: $300
Vaccinations: ???
Any donations of any sort will put us one step closer to arriving in Rio and would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading our story and for helping our dream become a reality. If you would like to follow us in our journey to train for and compete in Rio, you can follow our blog Left Coast Lightweights !
Even if you are unable to donate but would spread the word or share our story it would be appreciated.
A special thanks to those of you who have donated outside of the GoFundMe including Kim Tooze, Jenifer Twist, Frank Tooze, The Bernard Hopkins Boxing Inc, Phyllis Harris and Lily Funk.
Keara and Sydney
About the Athletes:
Keara Twist: I started rowing in the fall of 2009 with Seattle University. From there I rowed briefly with the Lake Union Crew sweep team, and then learned to scull and began rowing at Seattle Rowing Center. I am currently coaching middle school rowing at Seattle Rowing Center, with occasional classes with the masters at Lake Union Crew. Next summer I will be moving to Boston to pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy at Simmons College.
Sydney Taylor:
Sydney is from Delaware, started rowing her freshman year of high school at St. Andrew's School, and rowed sweep at Williams College. Upon college graduation in 2012, she continued sweep rowing at Lincoln Park Boat Club in Chicago, IL, and began racing in the single in 2014. Sydney has been rowing at Seattle Rowing Center since 2016.
Sydney works for Oiselle, a local women’s running clothing company, in their flagship store, and enjoys connecting with other female athletes in Seattle and around the country through the Oiselle community.
