Skip to content

Ladner rower headed to his second Olympic Summer Games

Maxwell Lattimer teams up with Patrick Keane to win qualifier event in Switzerland
Maxwell Lattimer
Ladner's Maxwell Lattimer and Victoria's Patrick Keane are headed for the Summer Olympic Games in Toyko after winning their lightweight men's double skulls event at the Olympic Qualification Regatta on Sunday in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Maxwell Lattimer is headed to his second consecutive Olympic Summer Games.

The 27-year-old Ladner rower secured his trip to Tokyo by teaming up with Victoria’s Patrick Keane to capture Sunday’s lightweight men’s double sculls event at the Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland.

The performance was part of a terrific day for the Canadian team with all three crews earning Olympic berths, giving Canada 10 boats in Tokyo, its largest number of entries since the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta.

It proved to be a test of endurance for the Canadians with inclement weather resulting in the semi-final and final races taking place on the same day of the regatta.

With rain pouring down on Lake Rotsee, China got off to a fast start in the six boat field before Lattimer and Keane surged into the lead midway through the race and eventually held off the Czech Republic in a winning time of 6:28.53.

“At the beginning, we were a good chunk back, but we were just confident in our training and execution,” said Lattimer. “In lightweight rowing, the leader of the race changes a lot but the fastest boats will always come out on top. What a thrill.”

Lattimer and Keane finished the weekend unbeaten after also capturing their opening heat on Saturday.

“It’s an adjustment having crews beside you,” added Lattimer. “At home when we do 2000m racing, it’s on staggered starts, so having crews come with you at the start and then relaxing into the race is an adjustment.”

They will be looking to improve upon their 13th place finish at the Rio Games back in 2016.

Lattimer becomes the third Delta athlete headed for Toyko, joining Mark Pearson (field hockey) and Marcus Thormeyer (swimming).

The Toyko Summer Games are slated for July 23 to Aug. 8 after being postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.