Each summer, Canada, America, and Mexico host the CanAmMex Regatta. This series of races showcases some of the best junior athletes from the three countries. In July, rising senior, and member of the Newton Country Day crew team, M. Lee ’19 rowed in the Regatta on the US Junior Worlds Development Team.
Lee’s journey to CanAmMex began in March 2018. At the suggestion of her coach, Kate Spelman, Lee tried out and was selected to attend USRowing Junior National Team ID Camp. USRowing is the national organization that ultimately fields the United States Olympic team. After impressing national team coaches with her rowing technique, Lee was invited to attend the USRowing Under 18 Women’s National Team Camps in New London, Conn. earlier this summer. From there, she was selected from a pool of 50 to represent the United States in the CanAmMex Regatta in Mexico City near the location of the 1968 Olympics. At the Regatta, Lee raced in the women's four, placing second, and in women's eight, placing first.
Lee credits NCDS and coach Spelman with preparing her for this unique opportunity. “The girls on the NCDS crew team were so encouraging when I was thinking of joining the team and are a big reason why I love rowing so much,” said Lee. “I have made some of my best friends on the crew team and we are always there to support each other. Ms. Spelman gave to me the courage and confidence to make the CanAmMex team. She always encourages me to think big about what I can do with this sport. She told me to go to the ID camp and pumped me up before I left for high performance camp. It was really encouraging having a coach back home that believed in me when I was stressed about making the team.”
Lee considers it a “dream come true” to not only represent her country, but to bring home a gold medal.
Lee is not the first NCDS student to be honored with earning a spot in the CanAmMex Regatta. In 2013, Meredith Swords ’14 raced at CanAmMex as part of the US Junior Worlds Development Team in Banyoles, Spain, the venue of the 1992 Olympics.