The USA confirms Olympic Rowing roster

(BEIJING, July 11) -- The USA has released the final roster of 45 rowers who will be heading to Beijing to compete in the Olympic Rowing Regatta in August.

Eleven boats from the USA qualified for the Beijing Olympics at the World Rowing Championships and two won their Olympic berths at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta last month in Poznan, Poland.

Brian Volpenhein and Paul Teti are among the more experienced rowers on the team. Volpenhein is a two-time Olympian who won gold in the Men's Eight at the 2004 Athens Games. Teti will also be making his third Olympic trip, competing in the Men's Four in Beijing as he did in Athens and Sydney.

Athens silver-medalist Anna Cummins is the only athlete on the squad racing in two events. She is part of both the Women's Pair and Women's Eight crews.

Ellioy Hovey and Wes Peirmarini earned their Olympic spots by finishing first in the Men's Double Sculls in the U.S. Olympic trials. They bring limited international competition experience to this summer's Olympic Games.

The U.S. team is putting high expectations on the Men's Quad crew, which ended Poland's domination of the Men's Quad at the Rowing World Cup in Lucerne. And as the reigning world champions, the Women's Eight crew is expected to compete for gold in Beijing.

The Olympic Rowing Regatta takes place at Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park in Beijing August 9-17,