Janine Stephens (née Hanson; December 14, 1982) is a former Canadian rower from Winnipeg on the Canadian National team.[3] Stephens won the silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London as part of the women's eights rowing team. She also has two World Championship silver medals to her credit, also in the women's eights.

Janine Stephens
Personal information
Full nameJanine Elizabeth Stephens
Nationality Canada
Born (1982-12-14) December 14, 1982 (age 41)
La Mesa, California[1]
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight70 kg (150 lb)
Sport
College teamMichigan
ClubWinnipeg Rowing Club
Medal record
Women's rowing
Representing  Canada
Summer Olympics
Silver medal – second place 2012 London Women's eights
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2010 Karapiro W8+
Silver medal – second place 2011 Lake Bled W8+

Career

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Early Career

Stephens began rowing after being invited to try rowing by a former member of the National Rowing Team while in a karate class in 2000. At the 2001 Canada Summer Games, she earned two bronze medals.

College Rowing

From 2002 to 2006, Stephens raced for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. There, she won two Big 10 Championships and had two top-five finishes at the NCAA Championships. In 2006, she was a First Team All Big 10 Honoree and won the Big 10 Sportsmanship Award.[4]

International Rowing

Her career began as a sculler for Canada and her first major international competition came at the 2008 Summer Olympics. There, she finished in 8th place in the women's quad sculls.[5] Stephens then transitioned to the sweep from the scull, she had not rowed in the sweeping technique since her early college days.[2] This led to her finding success at the 2010 World Rowing Championships, where she won a silver medal in the women's eight. She won the silver medal again in the women's eight 2011 World Rowing Championships.[6] Stephens final competition was during the 2012 Olympic Games as the bow seat in the 8+. Her success in the women's eights ensured her seat at the 2012 Summer Olympics. There at the Eton Lake Rowing Centre she and the rest of the Canadian crew finished in the silver medal position behind the U.S. boat.[7]

Coaching

Leading up to the 2017 Canada Summer Games, Stephens was announced as the head coach for the Manitoba Rowing Association.[8] The Manitoba Team managed 1 Gold, 2 Bronze and 6 total top 5 finishes,[9] a best-ever showing for Manitoba Rowing.

In 2019, Stephens was announced as the winner of Rowing Canada's President's Award for her dedication to the sport of Rowing. [10]

Personal

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Stephens was born in the United States to Canadian parents. Her parents returned to Winnipeg when she was two years old. She grew up in Winnipeg and trained for the national team in London, Ontario.[2] Stephens has now retired from competitive rowing, returned to Winnipeg, and was married on February 16, 2013. She has a degree in movement science from the University of Michigan.[11] Upon retiring from competitive rowing, Stephens became the spokesperson for the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Commission.[12][13]

Honours

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In 2012 Stephens was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.[14]

References

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  1. ^ Janine Hanson at World Rowing
  2. ^ a b c "Janine Stephens profile". Canadian Olympic Committee. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  3. ^ RowingCanada.org heavyweight women biography Archived 2010-10-13 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Janine Hanson - Rowing Canada".
  5. ^ Olympic results Archived 2012-11-04 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 22, 2010. Retrieved November 8, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ Alexandra Paul (August 2, 2012). "Rowing club thunders and roars with cheers as city's Hanson brings home silver". Winnipeg Free Press.
  8. ^ "Coaching". Manitoba Rowing Association. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  9. ^ "2017 Canada Games - Manitoba Medal Count". September 12, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  10. ^ "Winnipeg Olympian-turned-coach recognized by Rowing Canada for dedication to sport - Winnipeg | Globalnews.ca".
  11. ^ "Rowing Canada - Bios - Heavyweight women". Archived from the original on October 13, 2010. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
  12. ^ "JANINE HANSON, CANADIAN OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALIST IS MANITOBA LIQUOR & LOTTERIES NEW COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR | News | Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries". Archived from the original on October 28, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  13. ^ Wazny, Adam (April 25, 2013). "Apr 2013: Olympian signs on with Crown corp. For new gig". Winnipeg Free Press.
  14. ^ "Olympic and Paralympic athletes to receive Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal". Official Canadian Olympic Team Website | Team Canada | 2016 Olympic Games. December 19, 2012. Archived from the original on May 19, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
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