USA Canoe/Kayak Names Stein Jorgensen Sprint National Team Coach

For immediate release: USA Canoe/Kayak Names Stein Jorgensen Sprint National Team Coach

USA Canoe/Kayak has named Stein Jorgensen to serve as the primary 200 and 500 meter Sprint National Team Coach on Friday. Jorgensen returns to USA Canoe/Kayak where he briefly served as the Assistant Coach for USA Canoe/Kayak's sprint program under the guidance of Nathan Luce. Jorgensen is also an accomplished sprint athlete in both the K-2 and K-4 disciplines.

"We look forward to the work ethic and training expertise that Stein brings to the program and I am very excited to have him officially join our team," said William Irving, USA Canoe/Kayak National Teams Director. "Stein will be a great ambassador for USA Canoe/Kayak and a leader amongst our Sprint program."

As an athlete, Jorgensen was a seven time National Champion in Sprint. Most notably he won a gold medal in the K-2 200 meter event at the 1995 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Duisburg Germany. He also competed in two Summer Olympic Games, earning his best finish of sixth in the K-4 1000 meter, event at Sydney in 2000.

As USA Canoe/Kayak Assistant Coach in 2007, Jorgensen coached team boats including men's and women's K-4, and men's and women's K-2. Applying his "goal oriented" philosophy, Stein coached athletes at the 2008 Montreal Olympic Qualification Race to three second place finishes, one third place finish and one fourth place finish. Jorgensen also coached on the European Tour at World Cup Races in Szeged, Hungary and Duisberg, Germany.

More importantly, Jorgensen was integral in working with athletes who did not qualify for the 2008 Olympic team, which resulted in Jorgensen's teams competing in ALL three finals at 2008 Szeged World Cup Race.

Currently, Jorgensen volunteers at the San Diego Canoe and Kayak club. He has also contributed to the success of many athletes including Justin Piasecki, a Gold medalist at the 1999 Pan American Games, and 2008 Olympian, Carrie Johnson. Recently, Jorgensen has served as personal Coach to sprint Olympic hopefuls, Maggie Hogan, Emily Wright and Emily Mickle. Already, the three have experienced personal bests.

Jorgensen, a native of San Diego, is also a graduate of San Diego State University where he majored in Industrial Technology. Stein serves his community as a Firefighter for the Chula Vista Fire Department.

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MEDIA CONTACTS ONLY
Contact: Gerald L. Babao
Tel.: 704-348-4330
Email: gerald@usack.org

Tags: Canoe Sprint