London, ON - Western Mustangs rowing alumnae Jill Moffatt and Cassidy Deane are headed to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games as part of the Canadian Rowing team. Moffatt is competing in the Lightweight Women's Double Sculls, and Deane is an alternate athlete for the Women's Eight.
 
Moffatt graduated from Western in 2016 with a Bachelor of Health Sciences, and returned to Western to earn her Master of Health Information Science in 2019. Deane graduated from Western in 2022 with a Master of Kinesiology.
 
Prior to studying at Western, Moffatt had no rowing experience. "I happened to be at the gym when the varsity team was handing out fliers for their novice team tryouts," Moffatt explained. "I'm so lucky that I tried out for the team, it completely changed my life." Moffatt was a full member of the Western Mustangs Varsity Rowing team from 2012-2017, and was team captain from 2014-2016.
 
Deane began rowing during her second year of her undergraduate degree at Queen's University after also coming across the rowing team recruiting for their novice program. After rowing at Queen's during her undergraduate years, Deane joined the Western Mustangs Rowing team from 2019-2021 during her Masters.
 
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games marks Moffatt's second Olympic appearance, following her debut with Team Canada in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games where she finished 12th overall with teammate Jenny Casson in the Lightweight Women's Double Sculls.
 
Moffatt is a 2014 Canadian University Rowing Champion, a 2019 World Cup Champion, and was named the 2014 Ontario and Canadian national oarswoman of the year. She has also competed in two Under-23 World Rowing Championships, six World Rowing Championships, and nine World Cups. "It felt special to be recognized [by the oarswoman of the year awards] for more than what was happening on the water," said Moffatt. "I carry so much pride in what our women's and men's teams accomplished during those years. [2014] was my first time competing at nationals and it was really special. It was also special to follow up and continue to win this banner for the rest of my time at Western."
 
Head Coach of Western Mustangs Women's Rowing, Dr. Matthew Waddell spoke about Moffatt's positive impact on the rowing team. "Jill is both a talented athlete and inspirational leader," said Coach Waddell. "During her time at Western she was our team president and multiple time team captain. She spearheaded efforts such as the #OneTeam [nationwide cancer research] fundraiser, which was recognized by the Canadian Cancer Society and left a lasting legacy on our team of both community involvement and high performance."
 
Alongside being an incredible athlete, Moffatt is equally passionate about her studies in gender equity in sport and women's health. "My undergraduate and masters were really focused on gender equity as it relates to social and health policy change," Moffatt explained. "As I learn more about the gaps in research on elite women athletes (and by women researchers), I'm inspired to be a part of the solution." Moffatt credits fellow Western rowing alumna Amanda Schweinbenz as encouraging her to further pursue her interest in this space with a PhD this fall.
 
Moffatt fondly reflected on her time with the Western Mustangs Rowing team, expressing what really impacted her was the team culture. "I really loved every aspect of it; I loved the competitive nature of the team, but I also loved how much time we all spent together," Moffatt said. "I was able to keep developing as an athlete, but I also was able to enjoy all the aspects of being on a big team."
 
Deane echoed Moffatt's appreciation of the team atmosphere she experienced with the Western Mustangs. "The team fostered a great high-performance environment and became my stepping stone from the university level to the national team," Deane said. "The team aspect was imperative to my experience at Western, and I have made lifelong friends through my Mustang family."

 
Photo of two women holiding up Qualified Sign: Jill Moffatt (R), Photo Credit:  Rowing Canada / Meinruderbild; Photo of Cassidy Deane with Canada Flag on an oar, Photo Credit: Kevin Light
                                                 
Deane's hard work shone through, as she was a part of the Western Mustangs Rowing team who won the Canadian University National Championship women's eight title for Western, the first in almost a decade. Reflecting on the win, Deane said it was exciting to be part of an amazing crew alongside talented and driven girls and exceptional coaches Bob Ward and Sarah Black. "Our coaches went above and beyond to help foster a very positive environment built on trust and teamwork," said Deane. "I would like to think that the positive learning environment built on trust and teamwork has stayed with me and helped me with qualifying for the Paris Olympics and being part of the Olympic team. In a sport like rowing, teamwork is so important because you are all in the same boat (literally), so working together and with each other towards a common goal is a must."
 
"Cassidy is a hard-working and internally motivated athlete," said Coach Waddell. "During my time working with her I noticed her channel her relentless drive for self-improvement into a rare focus in practice that I'm sure she's carried forward into her preparation with the national team."
 
Moffatt also expressed how being a part of the Western Mustangs Rowing team helped her learn how to push aside her individual desires and put her team first. "The biggest thing that I learned from Western was the ability to put the team first," said Moffatt. "The Western Mustangs team motto was teamwork and commitment, and those two values blended together quite well. I felt that I could make whatever [national team] crew composition work because I knew my ability to succeed depended on my ability to work with others."
 
Coach Waddell praised Moffatt and Deane on their accomplishments, determination, and hard-work. "They both left performance records within our programs that athletes today measure themselves against, and are inspirations for future generations of Western student athletes," said Waddell.
 
In terms of competing at the Olympics, Moffatt said it was something she had never even thought of as a possibility until after she left Western and spent some years with the Canadian National Rowing team. She explained that the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games were an incredible learning experience, and she and her rowing partner Jenny Casson are approaching the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in a totally different way. "Our approach to training, communication, mental strength, and race tactics have evolved a lot so it feels very different," said Moffatt. "Our mindset is to keep improving until we run out of time, so we plan to go into Paris with the determination that we are in control of what happens next. We're going to give it everything we have and fight tooth and nail each time we are at the start line."
 
Unlike Moffatt, Deane has always dreamed of going to the Olympics since she was a kid, but she thought she would go for the Winter Olympics growing up in Whistler, BC. "I was surrounded by winter sports my whole life and got to experience the magic of the Olympics when they came to my hometown in 2010," Deane explained. "I have dreamt about being an Olympic ski racer since I could remember, so it is a little funny that I am part of a summer sport now." Deane joined the Canadian national rowing team in 2021 and ever since she has been aiming for the Paris Olympic Games. She has gone to 5 World Cups, 2 World Championships and other international regattas; all of which have prepared her for racing on the world stage and ultimately at the Games.
 
The Canadian Rowing team has been training since mid June internationally out of Corgeno, Italy. Moffatt says being able to train internationally has allowed the team to join the Norwegian and Australian teams for certain sessions; allowing them to compete against some of the best rowers in the Openweight Women's Double. "They aren't our direct competition so it's low stakes, while still giving us a competitive experience" Moffatt explained. Deane told us over the winter they did the most training she has ever done, with some weeks having over 26 hours of working out in addition to training meetings, physio, mobility, and more. "We have made a big push into this summer and have been training hard to dial in the final touches," Deane said.
 
The 2024 Olympic Games will be extra special for Moffatt, as it marks the last time there will be lightweight rowing at the Games for the foreseeable future. This year Canada only has 11 athletes (all women) competing, compared to 2020 where Canada had 10 different boats for the Olympic Games. "I feel a lot of pride in being able to secure Canada a spot at the Games, and we [Moffatt and Casson] both enjoy the pressure of being one of two shots at a medal," said Moffatt. "We are excited to give everything we have, knowing we are representing our rowing communities back home."
 
With the 2024 Olympics being Deane's first Games, she is extremely proud to wear the maple leaf and represent Canada on the world stage. "Every time I have the opportunity to row for Canada it is a huge privilege, however this one is extra special," Deane said. "The Olympics is the ultimate goal and I feel I am very fortunate to have been named to the team as an alternate." In regards to her inspiration, Deane spoke about her late father, and how she pushes herself each race for him. "He is who I think about when I have big moments or during the third 500 of a race when every muscle in your body is screaming and all you want to do is stop, but you aren't at the finish line yet," said Deane. "I think to myself, 'make dad proud, fight through this for him'. I wish I could share some of the things I have achieved with him, but I know he is looking down on me and is always with me cheering me on."
 
Western Mustangs Rowing 1992-1993 novice coach Michelle Darvill will also be attending the Olympics as part of the Netherlands Rowing team coaching staff. Darvill was the coach for Canada's Women's Eight Olympic rowing team in 2020, where she helped steer the team to win the first Gold medal in the event for Canada in 29 years.

The Western Mustangs are purple and proud to support Jill Moffatt and Cassidy Deane this summer while they continue their rowing journey in Paris.

The Olympic Games are July 27 to August 11, 2024 in Paris, France. Opening ceremonies are on July 26, and rowing events are July 27 to 30, with rowing medal events taking place July 31 to August 3.
 
Watch for more stories on Mustangs at the 2024 Summer Olympics over the coming weeks. https://westernmustangs.ca/news/2024/7/22/communications-and-media-relations-mustangs-at-the-paris-2024-olympics.aspx