By Justin Robertson
Two Clemson alumnae are training to be the youngest and fastest female athletes to row across the Pacific Ocean this summer, and the Clemson University Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute will welcome them to speak on campus the evening of March 26 as a part of its annual lecture series.
Jenny D’Anthony and Anna McLean of United Row will present “Rowing the Pacific: Record-Breaking Clemson Grads Turning Dreams into Reality.”
Former members of the Clemson rowing team, the pair will speak about their ongoing preparation for the estimated 60-day trip from Monterey Bay, Calif., to Kauai, Hawaii, as a part of the World’s Toughest Row competition. From taking two-hour sleeping shifts to burning 10,000 calories a day to desalinating ocean water, D’Anthony and McLean will begin their journey across the Pacific on June 8.
As a part of their mission, D’Anthony and McLean are raising money for the Hear Her Roar campaign, which brings awareness and financial support to Clemson’s female student-athletes.
Clemson students, faculty, alumni and community members are invited to hear D’Anthony and McLean discuss their upcoming 2,800 nautical-mile rowing competition. The talk will begin at 6 p.m. EST on March 26 in the Freeman Hall auditorium, followed by a reception with food and refreshments in the Freeman Hall gallery from 7-8 p.m.
For more information, reach out to the Institute’s assistant director, Kayla Rogers, at krroge2@clemson.edu. Those interested should RSVP for the event at clemsonsportslecture.rsvpify.com.
Meet Our Speakers
McLean and D’Anthony were members of Clemson’s rowing team beginning in 2014 and until they graduated from Clemson in 2017 and 2018, respectively. In 2022, McLean, from the United Kingdom, and D’Anthony, from the United States, formed United Row.
Anna McLean
In between rowing the vast oceans, McLean, 29, serves as a technology consultant in Venice, Fla. Her passion for rowing began because she wanted to follow in her brother’s footsteps. She learned how to row at Cheltenham Ladies’ College and continued her rowing career at Clemson.
“I’m thrilled to return to Clemson, where this wild dream was unknowingly brewing on Lake Hartwell’s glassy waters,” McLean said. “Reflecting on my Atlantic crossing with my brother three years ago, I’m reminded of the resilience forged through shared challenges and boundless determination. As we stand poised to row across the Pacific, the Clemson Tiger in me still roars strong! I look forward to sharing these life-changing stories and paving the way for new horizons to be conquered.”
Jenny D’Anthony
D’Anthony, 28, resides in Jacksonville, Fla., where she is a biomedical engineer. She joined Clemson’s rowing teams as a walk-on and is excited to return to Tigertown, where she made great memories with her team.
“Returning to Clemson, where my journey with rowing first began, stirs a profound sense of gratitude and nostalgia,” D’Anthony said. “Sharing our journey from the rowing team to the vast expanse of the Pacific is a testament to the spirit of perseverance and adventure we developed at Clemson. As we embark on this daring voyage, I am fueled by the desire to push my own boundaries and embrace the ’ALL IN’ mentality. We hope to inspire others to chase their dreams at Clemson and beyond.”
About the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute
The Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute at Clemson University is a multi-disciplinary platform for the academic study of sports across the University. Thanks to the generosity of the late Robert H. Brooks, ’60, the Institute began in the 1990s with a founding emphasis on motorsports engineering, sports communication, sports management and sports marketing. Expanding to other disciplines across campus, the Institute seeks to define, enhance and promote the role of sports in academia and society. It provides experiential learning opportunities through academic programs, research, sports organizations and support for service and outreach programs. Through all of its activities, the Institute works to support the work of faculty, staff and students, disseminate knowledge, enhance the understanding of the significance of sport in modern society and prepare students to perform at the highest levels within sports industries.
Today, the institute continues that work, providing student scholarships, internship placements, legacy professorships, faculty fellowships, student engagement programs, research support, and learning opportunities such as the lecture series.
Featuring notable speakers from the intersection of sports, society and academics, the Robert H. Brooks Lecture in Sports Sciences highlights leading-edge work in sports and provides a mechanism for engaging the entire Clemson community in the field. The lecture series began in 2018 with NFL coach and NASCAR owner Joe Gibbs serving as the inaugural speaker.
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