Tokyo Calympians: Jack Cleary and Angus Dawson, Rowing, Australia
The Cal alum Cleary will race in Quad Sculls and Dawson in Eights for Australia
Let’s learn a bit about the two male Australian rowers that will race in Tokyo. Jack Cleary and Angus Dawson join fellow rower Rosemary Popa (Women’s Four) as the three 2021 Australian Calympians.
Corrections to what I had written before: in my note, I had mistakenly listed 1st-time Australian “Calympian” on the wrong boat, he will be racing in the Quad Sculls rather than the Eights in Tokyo. This will slightly increase Cal’s odds of winning an additional medal in a separate event.
Additionally, I have also added Cal Rugby alum Andre Jin Coquillard to the list of active “Calympians”. Cal should have 47 active athletes, 2 reserve athletes, and 7 alumni or current coaches acting as coaches for a totla of 56 Golden Bears in Tokyo.
Angus Dawson
Sport: Rowing
Event: Men’s Eight
Nation: Australia
Hometown: Dingabledinga, Australia
Olympic Appearance: 1st
Age: 20 (October 30, 2000)
Cal connection: Cal rising junior
Cal accomplishments: Dawson was a part of the Freshman 8 that went to the Princeton Chase in his freshman season and moved on to the Varsity 8 boat before that season was cut short by COVID. Due to the pandemic and his training with the Australian national team, Dawson did not compete for Cal this past school year while staying and training from Canberra, Australia.
Just a couple of years ago, Dawson was still just winning medals for the Australia in the U23 Championships in the coxed four. He had since ascended to the senior team where he earned a seat in the Eight boat.
His Australian rowing profile lists golf as his hobby.
Row2k calls Australia a wildcard team in Tokyo.
Jack Cleary
Sport: Rowing
Event: Men’s Quad Sculls
Nation: Australia
Hometown: Sydney, Australia
Olympic Appearance: 1st
Age: 25 (August 8, 1995)
Cal connection: Cal Alumnus (‘18, ISF Focus in Globalization and Development)
Cal accomplishments: Somewhat surprisingly, Cleary never rowed on the Cal Varsity Eight boat. He was on the Varsity 4 boat in 2016 (3rd at IRA), 3rd Varsity 8 boat in 2017 (3rd at IRA), and 2nd Varsity 8 boat in his senior year in 2018 (2nd at IRA).
A quick note on his event: a 'quad' is different from a 'four' in the rowing motion of the rower. For the quadruple scull, four rowers each holds two blades while sculling. A 'four' is made up of four rowers each with one oar in hand, sweeping.
Being a bit of a late boomer, the extra year really helped Cleary in earning a spot on the Olympic team.
Row2k sees Australia as one of the teams in the mix behind the favorites of the Netherlands and Italy in mens’ quad sculls.
Rowing Schedule:
The men's rowing event at the Tokyo Games is scheduled for July 23-30 on the Sea Forest Waterway.
Date and Time: Fri 23 July 2021, 8:30 - 12:10
Men's Quadruple Sculls Heats
Date and Time: Sun 25 July 2021, 9:00 - 11:40
Men's Quadruple Sculls Repechage
Men's Eight Heats
Date and Time: Tue 27 July 2021, 8:30 - 12:00
Men's Quadruple Sculls Final B
Men's Quadruple Sculls Final A
Men's Quadruple Sculls Victory Ceremony
Date and Time: Wed 28 July 2021, 8:30 - 11:40
Men's Eight Repechage
Date and Time: Fri 30 July 2021, 8:45 - 10:55
Men's Eight Final A
Men's Eight Victory Ceremony
GO BEARS!