Racing to the Olympics!

When he wasn’t out on Lake Cochichewick during his time at Brooks, crew captain Henry Hollingsworth ’17 built up his rowing endurance in the tanks and on the ergs in Danforth Gymnasium — under the “Brooks School Olympians” wall of fame.

Each time the quietly intense, 6-foot-2 rock band guitarist sweat it out in the Danforth, he had only to look up to see inspiration in the plaques celebrating three-time Olympians Eleanor D. Logan ’06 and W. Douglas Burden ’83 and others.

Their example, and years of hard work and accomplishment, have prepared Hollingsworth to be the next name on the wall. He just earned the opportunity to row in the U.S. men’s eight qualifier next month for the chance to compete in the Paris Olympic Games!

“Rowing had been infused into Henry's DNA from an early age with father Val Hollingsworth, captain '72 crew and uncle Arthur '81 having very successful rowing careers,” said Brooks School’s Director of Rowing Tote Smith.

Henry rowed at Fessenden School before coming to Brooks, where he rowed in the 2-seat for three consecutive years for the Brooks first varsity, then moving on to Brown University. At Brown, he was named an Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association All-American and Academic All-Ivy League as well as captain of the Brown crew his senior year.

“The hallmark of Henry’s stroke was efficiency and length — memorable from the fall of 2016 when I first took a Head of the Charles boat out at Brooks,” said coach Smith. “As a co-captain, he led with his oar, not his mouth. . . . Like the rest of his family, Henry is modest about his innate abilities and work ethic.”

Brooks' crew on 2017 spring training trip in Clemson, South Carolina.

Now a mechanical designer and USRowing National Team Athlete based in Oakland, California, Hollingsworth is undoubtedly using that determination to make the most of his big chance.

Hollingsworth (left) with classmate Rowan Beaudoin-Friede '17 at graduation, after they won the Music Prize, “awarded in recognition of dedicated, long-term study of an instrument or voice that has resulted in the highest level of musical performance in the graduating class.”

If his boat earns a top-two finish at the 2024 World Rowing Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland this May, the crew will go on to represent the United States at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games!