Olympic rower Abby Dent from Kenora is taking home a silver medal and her hometown rowing club is ready to celebrate her success.
The Kenora Rowing Club hosted a 5 a.m. watch party as Dent and the Canadian women’s eight rowing team took home a silver medal last weekend. She is northwestern Ontario’s only Olympic athlete competing in these games.
The rowing club played a significant role in Dent’s career, and it is where she first fell in love with the sport.
Long-time volunteer and member of the club, Jennifer Findlay, says she has known Dent for years.
“The club is super excited, and we’ve been following Abby’s journey since she started with our club in 2016,” said Findlay. “She’s made us all very proud, and she is so inspiring, especially to our junior members this year.”
In 2016, Dent connected with the sport when a course called ‘Learn to Row’ was hosted at her school by Rowing Canada. She then spent her first summer at the Kenora Rowing Club.
“It was never just the rowing club, the entire community was rooting for her,” said Findlay. “Ever since we found out that she had made the rowing team, businesses had posters in their windows and neighbors were making signs.”
Findlay says Dent’s work ethic and determination brought her to where she is today.
“She is a modest person and even a little bit shy, but the modesty and determination just makes her such a great person.”
Kenora Rowing Club hosts party for community to watch Abby Dent win a silver medal.
The club is working with the city of Kenora to host a community event for the Olympic Silver Medalist later in the month.
A date has not yet been selected but officials are working on the details of the community celebration.
