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Three-time Olympic rower to host UVic fundraiser breakfast

Sept. 30 Vikes Championship Breakfast has raised more than $2.4 million for student-athlete scholarships and bursaries since 2003

Three-time Olympic rower Darcy Marquardt has been announced as the keynote speaker for the University of Victoria’s seventh annual Vikes Championship Breakfast on Sept. 30.

Marquardt starred for the Vikes from 1999 to 2002 and won Olympic silver as a member of the women’s eight at the 2012 London Summer Games.

The list of past speakers is a great one, as the Championship Breakfast has raised more than $2.4 million for student-athlete financial awards.

“Student-athletes balance a lot on their plates between studies, training and competition,” said Marquardt, who draws from her experience, as a lifeguard at Saanich Commonwealth Place from 2000 too 2005.

“Financial awards allow (students) to balance a little less on their plates and alleviate the financial stress,” she said.

“Maybe they can work fewer hours at a part-time job or not at all, which allows them to feel successful in their studies and their varsity sport.”

Marquardt started with the Vikes novice program in 1997 and made the Canadian national team by 2002.

She won gold at the Canadian University Rowing Championship in 2001 in the women’s pair and eight, was part of Rowing Canada’s Crew of the Year and won multiple Royal Canadian Henley golds.

UVic matches the first $200,000 raised by the Championship Breakfast.

Marquardt joins a prestigious list of past keynote speakers including Canada’s most decorated Paralympian, swimmer Stephanie Dixon, and acclaimed author Dr. Paul E. Zehr.

Find tickets and more information online at govikesgo.com/breakfast.

reporter@saanichnews.com