Australian Youth Olympic Festival News

Father - Son Combination a winning formula for the Arendsens

Like many rowers competing at the AYOF Eugene Arendsen, parents will be in the stands watching and cheering. But Eugene’s dad Chris will be watching with more interest and giving his son a bit more advice than others. You see Chris is his son’s coach.

Eugene had an outstanding year during 2002, with the highlight being a silver medal in the highly competitive single sculls at the World Junior Championships in Trakai, Lithuania. The single scull is often compared to the 100 metres on the track as one of the harder events to race. Eugene finished just behind the Italian sculler in August 2002 at the Junior World Champs. A remarkable achievement considering that Eugene had only being sculling for 18 months prior to the Championships.

Eugene, who rows out of the Surfers Paradise Club, the same Club as National Champion Duncan Free, will rowing in the single scull for Queensland during the AYOF. He will also be racing in the Quad Scull and Eight. Eugene will also be leading the rowing contingent at the Opening Ceremony on Wednesday 8th January. Just to show the support like so many parents are doing dad Chris is driving the Queensland Boat Trailer from Brisbane to Sydney.

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