Michael Blomquist (born August 14, 1981 in

Winston-Salem, North Carolina Winston-Salem is a city in Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States, and its county seat. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the List of municipalities in North Carolina, fifth-most populous ...

) is an American rower and a former World Champion.

Education

Blomquist was educated at

Phillips Exeter Academy Phillips Exeter Academy (often called Exeter or PEA) is an Independent school, independent, co-educational, college-preparatory school in Exeter, New Hampshire. Established in 1781, it is America's sixth-oldest boarding school and educates an es ...

and

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

. He then enrolled at

St Peter's College, Oxford St Peter's College is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford. Located on New Inn Hall Street, Oxford, United Kingdom, it occupies the site of two of the university's academic halls of the Univers ...

where he undertook a Master of Science degree in Nature, Society & Environmental Policy.

The Boat Race

Whilst at

Oxford University The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second-oldest continuously operating u ...

, Blomquist was a member of

Oxford University Boat Club Oxford University Boat Club (OUBC) is the Rowing (sport), rowing club for the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in 1829. The prime constitutional aim of OUBC is to beat Cambridge Univers ...

and took part in the Boat Race in 2005. Both universities had extremely strong intakes that year, with

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, north of London. As of the 2021 Unit ...

boasting several world champions and the Oxford crew including Olympic silver-medallist Barney Williams. Oxford, with Mike in the six seat, won the epic contest by 2 lengths in a time of 16 minutes and 42 seconds.

International rowing career

Blomquist won his first senior international vest in 2001. He sat in the two-seat of the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

Coxed Four A coxed four, abbreviated as a 4+, is a racing shell used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for four persons who propel the boat with sweep oars and is steered by a coxswain. The crew consists of four rowers, each having one ...

, which made the final of the

World Championships A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game ...

Lucerne Lucerne ( ) or Luzern ()Other languages: ; ; ; . is a city in central Switzerland, in the Languages of Switzerland, German-speaking portion of the country. Lucerne is the capital of the canton of Lucerne and part of the Lucerne (district), di ...

, and again a year later in

Seville Seville ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Spain, Spanish autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the Guadalquivir, River Guadalquivir, ...

. After a break from international rowing, he returned in 2005, becoming World Champion as part of the

Eight, at the

Gifu is a Cities of Japan, city located in the south-central portion of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. The city has played an important role in Japan's history because of its location in the middle of the country. Durin ...

. In 2006 Mike was in the

Coxless Four A coxless four, abbreviated as a 4- and also called a straight four, is a racing shell used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for four persons who propel the boat with sweep oars, without a coxswain. The crew consists of four ...

, which finished fourth at the

at Eton.

Achievements

World Championships

* 2006 Eton – 4th, Coxless Four (two) * 2005

– Gold, Eight (four) * 2002

– 6th, Coxed Four (two) * 2001

– 6th, Coxed Four (two)

World Cups

* 2005 Eton – 9th, Coxless Pair (stroke)

References

* 1981 births Living people Phillips Exeter Academy alumni Harvard University alumni Alumni of St Peter's College, Oxford American male rowers Oxford University Boat Club rowers Sportspeople from Winston-Salem, North Carolina World Rowing Championships medalists for the United States Harvard Crimson rowers {{US-rowing-bio-stub