July 4–6 was a riveting weekend for the local Ree family as Sam Ree, a third-year biology student at the University of Victoria (UVic), represented Canada at the FISU World University Rowing Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands and narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth in the men’s eight behind Italy, Germany, and Austria. Despite his father Todd Ree’s experience as a lightweight rower for the University of Alberta, Sam’s journey to becoming an international rower has come somewhat unexpectedly.
Growing up in Vermilion, Sam was not involved in rowing; instead, he was a competitive Nordic skier, representing Team Alberta for several years. Near the start of his schooling at UVic, he filled out a form expressing an interest in learning to row. The university’s rowing coach invited him to walk-on tryouts involving various physical tests such as throwing a medicine ball and jumping for distance and height. Sam recalls not being sure how the tryouts went.
Good news came soon, as Sam received an email saying he had been selected to move into the novice rowing program at UVic. The purpose of the program was to teach students how to live like athletes and see if they could learn to row. Sam was part of this novice learn-to-row program for six weeks, at the end of which he was notified that he would move on and race for UVic.
Sam spent that first year learning the ins and outs of the sport, and at one point, held the second fastest novice score ever recorded for a 2,000-meter test on the ergometers, or indoor rowing machines. This, says his father, is how Sam figured out he had found his sport.
Standing at 6’3” and weighing 205 pounds, Sam’s physical attributes and natural athleticism saw him progress rapidly. By his second year, he had made it into UVic’s 2V boat (top 16), and in his third year, he earned a spot in the prestigious 1V boat (top 8).
In April of this year, Sam received word that he had been selected by Rowing Canada to represent the nation at the FISU World University Rowing Championships in early July. He has spent the past few months preparing for this event, and arrived early in the Netherlands to train and acclimate to the time difference. His parents travelled to cheer him on.
The athletes’ journey to Rotterdam was self-funded, highlighting the dedication and financial commitment required of athletes competing at this level.
“The whole experience of racing internationally and representing Canada was incredible for me,” said Ree. “As a crew, each time we went to the start line we got better and better, which is the best feeling you can have in rowing. In the final, we put together our best race yet, being in the running for a medal at the halfway point in the race. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to outsprint the Italian crew for a bronze medal, but all of us walked away extremely happy with our effort.”
“We were so very proud of him, and his teammates, and it was incredible to watch him compete at this level!“ said his mother Sandra Kathnelson
Sam’s achievements have filled his hometown with pride. His story is a testament to the incredible opportunities that can arise from trying new things and pushing beyond one’s comfort zone. The Vermilion community, along with UVic, is eager to see him perform again on the international stage
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