Rowing Canada CEO Terry Dillon to Step Down Ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics

Rowing Canada CEO Terry Dillon Steps Down Ahead of 2024 Olympics

In a surprising announcement, Rowing Canada chief executive officer Terry Dillon has revealed that he will be stepping down from his position next month, just ahead of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. Dillon, who has been at the helm of the country’s governing body of the sport for the past seven years, will officially resign on June 30, as confirmed by Rowing Canada in a statement posted on its website.

“This is one of the hardest decisions I have ever made, but I know it is the right one at the right time,” Dillon expressed in the statement. “I took this job to make a difference and I am proud of what we achieved.”

Following Dillon’s departure, Jennifer Fitzpatrick, Rowing Canada’s director of partnerships and sport development, will take on the role of interim CEO starting July 1. The timing of Dillon’s resignation comes as Olympic rowing is set to take place from July 27 to August 3 at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, with Paralympic rowing following from August 30 to September 1 at Vaires-Torcy leisure complex.

Despite the leadership transition, Canada’s women’s eight, which secured gold in Tokyo, and the women’s lightweight double have already qualified for the upcoming games in Paris. Additionally, the men’s eight and women’s quadruple sculls will have the opportunity to join them at a last-chance Olympic qualifier in Lucerne, Switzerland from May 19-21.

Rowing Canada has been actively working to improve its high-performance culture, conducting a review in 2022 following the dismissal of head coach Dave Thompson in 2020 due to athlete complaints of bullying and maltreatment. The organization has committed to implementing recommendations from a report issued by the law firm Rubin-Thomlinson in 2022.

As the transition in leadership unfolds, Rowing Canada president Carol Purcer commended Dillon for his dedication to advancing the sport in Canada. “Terry came into his role as CEO with a determination to grow rowing at all levels in Canada, and he has definitely moved us forward as a sport and an organization,” Purcer stated. “He has navigated through some very difficult times with a mindset that we can always do better, resulting in some progressive changes, making RCA one of Canada’s leading national sports organizations.”

Further updates on the organization’s leadership transition will be provided at a later date, as Rowing Canada looks towards a new chapter with a renewed focus on athlete well-being and performance excellence.