From Trent Excalibur to Team Canada
Trent University has a reputation for developing high-performance athletes through their Excalibur varsity programs. Learn more about student-athletes, coaches and partners in rowing who have traded the Excalibur green and white for Team Canada red and white, to row for our country at the Olympics and World Championships.
Photo by Rowing Canada Aviron / Merijn Soeters
Trevor Jones
Trent Excalibur student-athlete varsity rower, 2015-2018
Tokyo 2020 Olympian
“Competing with the Excalibur, it was a fun way to get some races in. It kept me motivated to keep on training in the fall. The more racing I could do, the better, being able to race against people who I rowed with internationally during the summer, and compete again them in the fall was always fun.”
Fast facts:
- Finished in 9th place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, competing in the men's single sculls event
- Team Canada: Tokyo 2020 (one of the youngest Olympians competing in the men’s sculls at the Olympics)
- Two-time under-23 Team Canada world champion (2017 & 2018)
- Competed in the 2019 World Championships, the 2017 World Cup, 2016 World under-23 Championships and the 2015 World Junior Championships.
Photo by Rowing Canada Aviron / Merijn Soeters
Joshua King
Trent alumnus; graduated in 2016 with a degree in Computer Science
Trent Excalibur student-athlete varsity rower, 2011-2016
Trent Athletics Arthur Cup winner, 2016
Tokyo 2020 Olympian
Fast facts:
- Made his Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020, participating as an alternate in the men’s four rowing event
- Long-standing member of the Trent Men’s Rowing team – serving as captain and Trent University Rowing Club Executive
- Led the Trent Men’s Rowing team to a 2014 OUA silver medal, before racing to two OUA gold medal finishes in 2015, which earned him a nomination as OUA rowing athlete of the year
- Recipient of the Arthur Cup in 2016 in recognition of outstanding contribution, sportsmanship, participation, and leadership in Trent’s athletic programs
- Joined the national team in 2016
- Represented Canada at the 2019 Pan American Games
- Represented Canada at the 2016 World Rowing Championships for non-Olympic events as a member of the lightweight quadruple sculls
- Competed at the 2015 Summer Universiade
Bayleigh Hooper
Trent Excalibur student-athlete varsity rower, 2016-2018
Tokyo 2020 Paralympian
“Once getting into rowing, I always wanted to see how far I could go. I’m a person that once I get something into my head or someone says I can’t do it, I want to go prove to them that I can do it.”
Fast facts:
- Making her Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020 as a member of the PR3 Mixed coxed four team
- Started rowing in 2017 with the Trent Excalibur novice rowing team and the Peterborough Rowing Club
- National team member since 2018
- Fourth place finish with the PR3 Mix coxed four team at the World Championships in 2018
- Won gold at the 2017 OUA Championships as part of Trent’s novice women’s eight team
Rob Marland '83
Olympic gold medalist at Barcelona 1992 and former Trent Excalibur student-athlete varsity rower
Trent alumnus; graduated in 1983 with a degree in Economics
“Team is a great term that is often used and referred to. You may ask yourself, ‘Was I a part of Trent’s team or was Trent part of mine?’ I believe the answer is both. Trent provides a unique educational experience, one in which balance in students’ lives is important. Participation in individual and team sports at both the intramural and varsity levels provides the opportunity for good health, team participation, and striving for excellence.”
Fast facts:
- Represented Canada at two Summer Olympics – 1988 and 1992, winning gold as part of the Canadian eights crew in 1992
- Spent eight years on the Canadian National Rowing team
- Two-time World Championships medalist, 1990 and 1991
- Won a coxed fours bronze medal at the 1987 Summer Universiade
- Won the eights Ontario University Championships and Canada’s Henley Royal Regatta as part of the Trent rowing team in 1985
- Won gold in the lightweight men’s single sculls at the 2018 Ontario University Championships and 2018 Canadian University Championships in St. Catharines, Ontario
- Placed sixth in the Pan American Games, 2019
Photo by Rowing Canada Aviron / Merijn Soeters
Spencer Kielar '18
Placed sixth in the Pan American Games, 2019
Former Trent Excalibur student-athlete varsity rower
Trent alumnus, graduated in 2023 with a degree in Conservation Biology
“My favourite Trent experience would be earning a bronze medal at OUAs, rowing in the men's pair. Entering the race we were the underdogs and being able to perform at the right time and earn a bronze was definitely an amazing experience.”
Fast facts:
- Majored in Conservation Biology at Trent University
- Joined the national team in 2017
- Made his international debut at the 2019 World Rowing U23 Championships, advancing to the B Final of the lightweight single sculls
- Represented Canada at the Pan American Games in 2019 placing sixth
Grace Vandenbroek
Trent Excalibur varsity student-athlete rower, 2018-Present
Currently completing a degree in Business Administration at Trent
Rowing Canada U23 Athlete of the year, 2022
“With the one-on-one coaching, Trent’s varsity program really focuses on the whole athlete. I like Trent’s size, the close proximity to home, and Trent offers a nice balance of rowing and academics. I love the feeling of the campus.”
Fast facts:
- Business Administration student at Trent
- Represented Canada a total of five times since 2017
- Bronze medal at 2017 World U19 Championships
- Represented team Canada at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games
- Four World U23 Championship appearances
- Silver medal at 2022 World U23 Championships
- U23 women’s 1X gold medal at the 2022 Rowing Canada
National Rowing Championship Regatta.
Carol Love
Trent University Head Coach (2005 – 2015) and honorary alumna
Rowing Canada Avrion NextGen Coach, Athlete Mentor, and former Olympian
"Trent is a one-stop shop for athletes. It's an incredible environment with the school, the athletic facility where they do indoor training, the club right on campus, and a great stretch of water to train on."
Fast facts:
- 1976 Olympian (Canadian Women’s Eight) and World Championship bronze medallist in 1977
- Canada’s most heralded female coach, Carol Love has spent over 30 years coaching with Trent’s rowing program and the Peterborough Rowing Club
- Currently the Rowing Canada NextGen Coach and Athlete Mentor
- Under her guidance two Peterborough rowers achieved Olympic gold medals and one world gold medal
- Coached at the Pan American Games (2019), Youth Olympics (2018), Under-23 World Championships (2014, 2016), Junior World Championships (2013, 2015, 2018), and Canada Games (2005)
- Inducted into the Rowing Canada Sports Hall of Fame (2017), McMaster Sport Hall of Fame (2009), Peterborough Sports Hall of Fame (2008), and received the Petro-Canada Coach Award (2008, 2016)
- Received Ontario University Athletic Association Rowing Coach of the Year honours in 2004 and 2006.
Brian Love
President of the Peterborough Rowing Club
Former Chair of the Head of the Trent Regatta
“With a long history of developing high performance, championship rowing talent, Trent and the Peterborough Rowing Club offer a winning partnership.”
Fast facts:
- President of the Peterborough Rowing Club
- 1976 Olympian, competing in the men's coxless pair event at the Summer Olympics
- Represented Canada at the 1975 Pan Am Games in Mexico, winning silver in the coxed pairs