Kenora, Ont., riding wave of excitement as hometown rower Abby Dent prepares for Olympic debut
Women's 8 rower to make Games debut in Paris on Monday amid cheers from afar
People in Kenora and elsewhere in northwestern Ontario are riding a wave of excitement as a hometown rower prepares to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Abby Dent is part of Canada's women's eight rowing team, which will take to the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium on Monday.
"It's a pinch-me kind of moment. The community is so excited and so supportive," said Jennifer Findlay an organizer with the Kenora Rowing Club. "The club is, as you can imagine, sort of over the moon, you know, very, very proud that one of our athletes is heading to the Olympics."
Dent began rowing with the club in high school and quickly progressed in the sport.
Most recently, Dent competed with the team that won gold at the 2024 World Rowing Cup II in Lucerne, Switzerland, in May. She was called upon at the last minute to move into the stroke seat due to a teammate's illness.
Moving on to the Olympics, Dent will once again sit in the stroke seat, something Findlay calls a massive achievement.
"I mean, we are certainly hometown proud about the fact that Abby Dent is in the eight, but the fact that she's stroking the eight. I think it's the equivalent to being like the captain of the hockey team," said Findlay.
"Everyone is following the stroke and they need to be very powerful. They need to be a leader, and they also need to be the person that can get through the pain at the end … so that they can push to the finish."
Watch party and well wishes
The Kenora Rowing Club is behind a lot of the fanfare in the northwestern Ontario city as Dent gets ready to compete.
The club is planning a watch party Monday for the race and has been collecting well wishes for Dent ahead of her Olympic debut.
From decorated cookies cheering on the 22-year-old athlete to posters and signs plastered throughout the city, it's clear Kenora is electrified with excitement.
Sign facing hometown lake says it all
Lee Blyth is one of the people behind a large set of signs set up on the shores of Longbow Lake just outside Kenora.
On calm mornings, Blyth and his family would see Dent training on the lake near their cottage. He said her dedication to the sport was always something his family admired.
"When we were watching her on one of those nice, calm mornings I mentioned one time, I said: 'You know what? If Abby ever makes the Olympics, we're going to have to put up a big sign for her.' Years went by and, well, what do you know. Now there's a huge sign in my front yard," said Blyth.
The "GO ABBY GO" sign set faces Longbow Lake. Blyth said his mom, a retired art teacher, helped put it together.
Findlay also believes Dent's involvement in the Olympics will boost the sport.
"I think for younger and junior athletes … in hearing Abby's story that you can join this sport in high school and then put in the work, have the talent and go on to this level — I think that we will see more interest" in the sport.
The Kenora Rowing Club dates back to 1890. Findlay calls Kenora a water-based community as the city is situated on Lake of the Woods. Rabbit Lake also serves as a popular regatta venue for rowers from across the country.
Findlay said having a hometown athlete competing in the Olympics complements the already rich history of rowing in Kenora, adding Dent is a true ambassador of the sport.
"I was reminded when we saw Abby in May that she's just, she's so humble and just such a lovely person. I think she really embodies so many of those values that people associate with the sport."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
