American athletes at the Olympics have included various Groton graduates. Alex Karwoski ‘08, Henry Nuzum ‘95, and Isabella Kinsolving Farrar ‘98 have competed for crew and sailing, even as recently as this past summer in Rio.

Groton’s most recent Olympian Alex Karwoski ‘08 first began his rowing career at Groton, and rowed in Rio just months ago in the Men’s Eight competition. He first tried rowing in 2005 to help him cross-train for his primary sport at the time, cross country. His Groton crew career got off to a rocky start–when interviewed by row2k, Alex said, “The first time I sat in a boat, I caught three crabs within the first seven strokes I tried to take.” In the same interview, Alex recalled a list of influential coaches who have helped him get to where he is today which included Groton coaches Topher Row and Bob Madden.

After graduating from Groton, Alex rowed at Trinity College before transferring to Cornell University. Following that, he trained with the U.S. National Team for four years. His hard work paid off when he was able to secure a spot on U.S. Men’s Eight crew team in this past summer’s Olympics. The team was able to make it to the finals, where they finished in fourth place. Great job, Alex!

Henry Nuzum ‘95 is another recent Grotonian who has competed in the Olympics. Henry grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina before attending Groton where he rowed crew. Following his Groton graduation, he attended Harvard University where he continued his rowing career. In addition, he signed up for ROTC at Harvard during his freshman year in 1995. After enjoying a successful rowing career at Harvard where he was named team captain, Henry graduated in 1999 and was able to earn himself a spot in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. He rowed in Men’s Double Sculls with his partner Mike Ferry, and they finished in eighth place.

Then as part of his ROTC training, Henry received his assignment for the Navy where he served on the USS John S. McCain. On the USS McCain there was not a rowing machine, but he had to stay in shape somehow. He told the New York Sun, “When I was deployed, I did calisthenics, pull-ups, sit-ups, lunges and rode a stationary bike.” This was done for the 290 days he was on the USS McCain. In 2003, the Navy let Nuzum come back and train full-time for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. He and his partner, Aquil Abdullah, qualified for the 2004 Olympics in double sculls with a first place finish in the National Selection Regatta. His qualification made him the first Iraq war veteran to participate in the Olympics. In his second Olympics, the duo was able to secure a sixth place finish.

Isabelle Kinsolving Farrar ‘98 is one of the few Groton olympians that went to the Olympics for a sport other than crew. Isabelle’s sport was sailing, specifically in the Women’s Doublehanded Dinghy 470. At Groton Isabelle received eight varsity letters in soccer, ice hockey, and crew. She was a captain of the hockey team, and she rowed for Groton’s first boat that won the NEIRA Championship. At Yale she was a member of the varsity hockey and varsity sailing team. In 2000 she was named captain of the Yale sailing team. From 2001 until 2012 Isabelle was a member of the U.S. Sailing team. She qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, and she was able to finish in fifth place. In the 2008 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, Isabelle won first place. She has since attended NYU’s law school, from which she graduated in 2011; and she is now a lawyer in Manhattan.