Here what you need to know about Rower Claire Collins

Claire Collins placed seventh in the women’s Coxless Fours at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and fourth in the women’s Four at the 2023 World Rowing Championships. Collins has also been chosen to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Claire Collins qualifies for the Paris Olympics 2024

Claire Collins qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics because she took part in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and achieved notable success in rowing competitions. When Collins visited Princeton University as a prospective rowing recruit, she noticed how the students approached their work in a unique way. Collins adopted this approach, and now she has the opportunity to carry it with her to the Paris Olympics.

This week, she was one of four former Princeton rowers selected for the United States Olympic team, joining Kelsey Reelick, Emily Kallfelz, and Nick Mead. Collins has represented the United States in various national and international rowing competitions, including securing seventh place in the coxless four event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and winning gold in the coxless four event at the 2023 World Rowing Cup II.

“The point is not perfection, but to be curious, engaged,” “What I experienced on that first day, and throughout my time at Princeton, was a joyful pursuit to be number one.”

Collins said.

Claire Collins was born on November 29, 1996, in Greenbrae, California, United States. Her parents are Steve and Patti Collins. She has an older sister named Faith and a younger sister named Sarah. Claire stands at a height of 180 cm (5 feet 11 inches) and weighs 82 kg (180 pounds).

Claire Collins Age, Family, and Education

In 2019, Princeton University recruited Claire to row for them, and she pursued her major in Economics after attending Deerfield Academy for high school. Her training location is Princeton, New Jersey, and her coach is Tom Terhaar.

Claire Collins with her Parents
Image: Claire Collins with her Parents (Source: Claire’s Instagram)

Growing up, Claire played several sports, including soccer, basketball, and lacrosse, before deciding to focus on swimming at the age of 10. Although swimming was her passion when she went to Deerfield Academy, she started rowing and had an amazing career as a tri-varsity athlete for all four years, serving as the captain of the volleyball, swimming, and rowing teams.

Ultimately, Claire continued with determination to become a team captain, a 3-time All-American, a 4-time Ivy League champion, and the winner of the Von Kienbusch award for Princeton’s Top Senior Female Athlete. While at Princeton from 2016 to 2019, the Varsity Eight team won four Ivy League Championships and finished fifth in the NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships in 2018.

How Claire Collins Started Her Career in Rowing

In 2012, Collins won the Silver Medal in the eighth event at the World Rowing Junior Championships.

After 2012, she finished fifth place in the eight events at the same championships.

Collins secured the Silver Medal in the coxless four event at the World Rowing Junior Championships and also won the coxless four event at the USRowing Youth National Championships in 2014

The following year in 2015, she won the coxless four event at the USRowing Youth National Championships again.

In 2016, Collins was named a first-team All-Ivy League honoree. She rowed in the six-seat and helped the Princeton Varsity Eight team upset the top-ranked Brown team to win the Ivy League championship. Her performance aided Princeton’s Varsity Eight return to the NCAA Championships grand final for the first time since 2013.

Also See: Who is American Rower Madeleine Wanamaker? What happened to her? Her Age, and Family

Additionally, she won the Ron Needs Challenge Cup for Elite Eights at the Henley Women’s Regatta and reached the semifinals of the Remenham Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta.

In 2017, Collins was a second-team All-American and first-team All-Region rower. She was also a first-team All-Ivy League honoree and an Academic All-Ivy League honoree. Rowing in the first Varsity boat, she helped Princeton win its second straight Ivy League championship.

Her contributions led the first Varsity boat to an 11-0 regular-season record, with wins in the Class of 1987 Trophy, Class of 1975 Cup, and Eisenberg Trophy regattas. The Princeton team placed ninth in the NCAA’s first Varsity Championships that year. Collins also won silver in the coxless eight event at the Under-23 World Championships.

Recent Accomplishments of Claire

In 2020, Claire Collins took part in the Tokyo Olympic Games and represented the United States in the rowing competition. She secured seventh position in the Coxless Fours Women’s event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. In 2022, Collins finished third place in the pair event. She was also fourth place in the eight event at the World Rowing Championships. She also won the silver medal in the pair event at the World Rowing Cup II that year.

In 2023, Collins finished fourth place in the coxless four women’s event at the World Rowing Championships. She won the gold medal in the same coxless four women’s event at the World Rowing Cup II.

Additionally, Collins secured second place in the pair event at the USRowing National Selection Regatta. She also was in third position in the pair event at the USRowing Winter Speed Order competition, both held in 2023.