Brendan Hodge

Biography

Brendan Hodge had an eight year break between international appearances for Canada. After competing at the 2005 World U23 Championships, he felt burned out so he left rowing to pursue his law degree and career. But while watching the rowing events from London 2012 he knew he wasn’t completely done with the sport. After five years of being off the water completely, he started training before and after work. In the spring of 2013 he competed at the national trials and was invited to train with the national lightweight team in London, Ontario, leaving the legal world behind. His first competition back was the 2013 World Cup in Lucerne where he finished 16^th in the lightweight four. He told himself when he got back to the dock that he would make the comeback story much better. He followed up with a fourth place finish in the lightweight pair at the 2013 World Championships. Hodge and the lightweight four finished 13^th at the 2014 World Championships. In 2015 Hodge and the lightweight four, dubbed the “northern lights”, won gold at the Pan Am Games in Toronto and secured an Olympic berth for Rio 2016 with their 11^th place finish at the world championships.

Getting to know…

Family: Parents Wendy Baker and Fraser Hodge… Getting into the Sport: Started rowing at age 13… His first time on the water it was cold and rainy, making it hard and uncomfortable but immensely satisfying to make the boat move… Had been intrigued by the sport since Silken Laumann did a presentation at his school when he was 8… Outside Interests: Earned Bachelor of Arts at Harvard College in 2007 before attending law school at the University of British Columbia where he graduated in 2010… Is a “two-wheel enthusiast” who has raced in moto-cross, downhill mountain biking, and road cycling… When he was practicing law he rode a Triumph motorcycle to work, but had to sell it to buy a single scull when he returned to rowing, calling it a “good trade”… Enjoys cooking, cycling, hunting, and fishing… Odds and Ends: Always travels with his chef’s knife and a variety of coffee appliances…