US Olympic rower training in Craftsbury ahead of his debut in Paris [Video]

Since 2012, the United States hadn’t qualified a men’s single sculls boat for the Olympics. Going into the 2024 Paris games, it appeared as though the U.S. would miss out once again, but Jacob Plihal had other plans.”The one experience at the final qualifier that I found pretty empowering is no one expected anything of me,” said Plihal.The Craftsbury Green Racing Project product qualified during his last opportunity to do so in what the rowing community calls the regatta of death. Not only did Plihal earn a spot as an Olympian for his first time, but he also secured the U.S. the opportunity to medal in one of the most challenging rowing events.The 6-foot-10 Washington state native wasn’t always a rower. An avid fan of basketball and baseball growing up, Plihal wasn’t introduced to the sport until he suffered a knee injury in high school, which sidelined his other athletic …