Westlake's Own Margot Shumway Competing in 2011 Pan American Games

Nearly 200 athletes from 18 countries are rowing for the gold in this year’s Pan American Games, and Westlake’s Margot Shumway is one of them. 

Shumway, 32, qualified for the women’s single sculls— a 2,000 meter course that puts a rower’s speed, endurance and strength to the test, she said. 

The Westlake native and Beijing Olympian is looking to stroke the single’s course in under eight minutes to beat out the international competition. 

“It’s a great honor and opportunity to compete with some of the best in the world," she wrote in an email. "I am happy to be here."

The 2011 Pan American, which is held every four years in the year preceding the Olympics, serves as a precursor for the summer games.

The games started Saturday on Lake Zapotlan in Guzman City, Mexico, and will run through Wednesday, Oct. 19. More than 6,000 athletes from 42 nations are participating in 30 different sports, U.S. Rowing Association rep Allison Frederick said. 

In the rowing category, the U.S. will compete in the men's and women's single sculls, lightweight women's single sculls, men's and women's double sculls, men's and women's lightweight double sculls, men's and women's pair, men's and women's quadruple sculls, men's four, lightweight men's four and men's eight, Frederick said. 

Shumway is one of 12 senior rowers who will lead the U.S. team.

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