Athletes

Kate Johnson is a 2004 Olympic silver medalist in rowing. She and her teammates set the world record in the women's eight at the Athens Olympic Games during the preliminary heats. Johnson is a 2002 World Champion and a 5-time world cup winner and has competed on over 9 senior and junior national teams. At the age of 15 (as a novice rower) Kate returned home from competing at the Junior World Championships in Scotland and in her journal wrote a promise to herself that she would one day compete in the Olympic Games. She went on to earn a full scholarship to the University of Michigan (class of 2001) where she and her team built one of the top NCAA women's rowing programs in the country. At Michigan Kate earned three-time All-American, two-time Big Ten Rowing Athlete of the Year, two-time U of M Athlete of the Year and 1998 U of M Freshman of the Year honors, making her the most decorated rower at the University of Michigan. Kate serves as vice-chair to the United States Olympic Committee's Athlete Advisory Council and is a representative for rowing. She is an athlete ambassador for "Right To Play," which uses sport and play as a tool for development in the most underprivileged areas of the world. Last year she traveled to Ethiopia with "Right To Play" programs and has since spoken about her experiences at the World Urban forum and the UN. Recently Kate ran the Portland marathon as a fundraiser for "Row NY," an inner city rowing club for girls of New York City. She currently works for the sport marketing firm, IMG (International Management Group), in New York City where she manages TOP sponsorship for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. (11/07)