"The List" -- 20 Hottest Male Rowing Athletes of 2011
Okay, it might be hyperbole to describe it as the most anticipated event in rowing outside of this year's world championships in Slovenia.
But U.S. rower Megan Kalmoe's annual list of the “20 Hottest Male Rowers” has developed quite a following since it started after the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Some simply call it “the list.”
It's gotten to the point where some of the men have started lobbying for their place on it.
Actually, it's all done in good fun and a friendly spirit. You can tell by the kibitzing on Twitter between Kalmoe and her rowing friends – a good number of them Canadian – that she is quite a character.
Two Canadians actually made this years list – Conlin McCabe making it as No. 19 and Rares Crisan ranking an impressive No. 3. And Crisan is supposed to be the lightweight!
We checked in with Kalmoe this week to learn a bit more about “the list.”
So is this the male rowing equivalent of the Emmy Awards?
Megan: “It’s very funny to me and I’m happy it’s gotten to that. But I don’t think it’s quite that big. But people seem to enjoy it. It’s a fun thing people look forward to after worlds every year.”
Are guys actually lobbying now to get on the list?
Megan: “The first two years I wrote it, no one knew about it so I didn’t get a lot of that. Over this last season leading up to this list, I actually did have a lot of guys coming up and introducing themselves. And, of course, my friends I do know started asking when the list was coming out, who was going to be on it, how to get on. I got to meet a lot of different people for that reason.”
How does one lobby to get on it?
Megan: “I’ve had a couple of different approaches. On one of the shuttles going back to the hotel after training at the worlds, I was on the bus with a bunch of athletes from the British men’s eight that I hadn’t met before. They started talking about the list very loudly in a way that I could definitely hear them. It was just smiles all around and a lot of banter. I’m friends with all those guys on Facebook now. It’s fun.”
The video is very tastefully done. No shirtless shots.
Megan: “My goal is not to make anyone uncomfortable being on the list. That would be the last thing I would want. It’s something fun and light.”
Having two Canucks on the list, is that a good percentage?
Megan: “I would say having more than one person on the list from the same country is pretty good. It’s no secret. Everybody who knows me knows I love the Canadian men’s team. They’re just very down to earth and very sweet and they work really hard. I could probably just make a whole list of the Canadian men if I wanted to. I never want to load the list with all just one team. I love the Australians. I love the Americans. I love a lot of different teams. Two is actually, I would say, pretty good.”
Besides, we know where these guys really want to look good in this next year is on the water.
Editor’s note: In the interest of fairness, it should be noted Conlin McCabe does have a bit of an unfair advantage. He followed Kalmoe at the University of Washington and she has a definite soft spot for the towering young man. “He’s very sweet,” she said.
Here are some photos of McCabe and Crisan taken by rower Kevin Light. That's McCabe with the beard:
This is another example of sexism by the Toronto Star. Your editors should have the courage to put stories like this in the trash bin. Objectifying people irrespective of gender is never appropriate.
Posted by: annoyed | October 12, 2011 at 02:29 PM
Really? Really? What next, a review of anime slash fiction between NBA players? Really.
Posted by: slick | October 12, 2011 at 05:34 PM
I can't believe you would print these pictures in a daily newspaper. I'm having my breakfast. And the article is another thing. Keep the noise down boys.
Posted by: Graham | October 13, 2011 at 07:58 AM
In the most intense year of training building up to the Olympics, it's refreshing to see some levity and good fun in the coverage. Plus isn't it great to see how much respect and friendship really crosses the border? Thanks for the post!
Posted by: Y. Watkins | October 13, 2011 at 08:32 AM
Wow great pics! - will be sure to hand these round the office :0
Posted by: Olympic Athletes | October 13, 2011 at 08:56 AM
Here are some photos of McCabe and Kalmoe taken by rower Kevin Light. That's McCabe with the beard:
While I'm glad you clarified that Kalmoe isn't the one with the beard, you might want to edit that to read "Crisan" instead.
Posted by: smug_cynic | October 13, 2011 at 10:08 AM
This is a lighthearted post about a lighthearted blog.
These athletes (both Kalmoe, McCabe, Crisan and everyone else on the list) train very hard year round. They compete internationally against each other a bare minimum of once a year, usually two to four or more times.
The list promotes some comradeship and levity between the teams. Think the fabled soccer match between British and German troops in December 1914. It lightens the tensions, something ALL the athletes need going into an Olympic year, some of whom still need to qualify for the Olympic games (something they've been training for for at LEAST four years; many have been in it for multiple Olympic cycles).
This is by no means meant to be sexist - if you see it that way then you're going out of your way to look for it.
Some Canadian athletes got attention on a small rowing blog and the Star is celebrating it. These athletes (and by this I mean all international rowers, Canadian and otherwise) dedicate their lives to the pursuit of perfection on the water. Some of them compromise or postpone their education for it. To represent our country.
In short: give some respect to some hard working Canadians
Posted by: Brent | October 13, 2011 at 08:07 PM