Temple University Athletics
Women's Rowing Coach Jason Read To Carry USA Flag at Opening Ceremony of Pan American Games
10.12.11 | Men's Crew, Women's Rowing
Guadalajara - Temple University women's rowing coach and Olympic gold medalist Jason Read (Ringoes, N.J.) has been selected as Team USA's flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony of the XVI Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
“I've been fortunate as an athlete to achieve a great deal, but this is something entirely different. To lead our team into the stadium, carrying the flag of the United States of America, is humbling, to say the least,” said Read. “I'm thrilled by this honor and grateful to my teammates for selecting me.”
Read was a member of the men's eight that won gold and set a world record (5:19.85) at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. This fall, he was named head coach of women's rowing at Temple University. He is scheduled to compete in the men's four and men's eight this week.
In addition to Read, Teresa Edwards will be one of eight athletes to carry the Pan American Sports Organization flag into the Opening Ceremony. Edwards is a five-time Olympian and four-time gold medalist in basketball, as well as the Team USA Chef de Mission for the upcoming 2012 Olympic Games in London. She won a gold medal at the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis.
“I'm really excited to be part of America's Fiesta again and looking forward to representing Team USA during the Opening Ceremony,” said Edwards. “The people of Guadalajara are clearly determined to host a spectacular Games and I can't wait for the competition to start.”
For more information and photos of Team USA at the Pan American Games, visit the 2011 Pan American Games Event tab on teamusa.org from Oct. 14-30 and follow @USOlympic on Twitter.
