DC Woman Triumphs at Royal Henley Regatta

By Robert Fachet
Washington Post Staff Writer
July 3, 1993

Women competed in England's Henley Royal Regatta for the first time yesterday and one of the more impressive winners was the District's Michelle Knox-Zaloom, who carried the Potomac Boat Club colors to a three-length victory over Helen Mangan of England on the 1.3-mile course on the Thames.

The single sculls -- first and only Henley competition for women -- counts as a round in the sport's World Cup and the strong field includes Olympic champion Elisabeta Lupa of Romania.

Knox-Zaloom, a 29-year-old government worker, has represented the United States in double and quadruple sculls and now is rowing on her own.

"I am not surprised it has taken until now, because women have not been rowing that long," Knox-Zaloom said. "Women {rowers} were allowed into the Olympics in 1976 and I believe women's rowing is finally coming up to the level where we can compete without making fools of ourselves. To be one of the first women is exciting. In a way it's quite intimidating, because of the tradition."