The third and final World Rowing Development of National Sports System (DNSS) expert visit to American Samoa took place from 27 July to 15 August 2026, concluding an important phase of the programme and building on the work completed during the previous two visits by World Rowing Coaching Expert Laryssa Biesenthal.
Over 19 days, the visit focused on strengthening local coaching capacity, developing athletes and putting sustainable structures in place to support the continued growth of Rowing in American Samoa. Activities included coaching education, athlete monitoring, structured training, technical development, equipment maintenance, Learn to Row activities and practical experience in organising competitions.
One of the major achievements was the successful completion of the Coastal Level 1 Coaches Course by four local coaches. The coaches combined classroom learning with practical activities covering rigging, equipment maintenance, Beach Sprint racing, athlete management and regatta organisation. Encouragingly, three of the newly qualified coaches had already begun assisting with coaching during the visit.
The coaches were also able to put their learning into practice by helping to organise the inaugural American Samoa Indoor Ergometer Regatta and the country’s first Beach Sprint Selection Regatta. These events provided valuable competition opportunities for athletes while giving the new coaches hands-on experience in race preparation, safety, scheduling and event management.
Youth participation was another positive outcome. Fifteen young athletes took part in the youth camp and indoor regatta. Strong trade winds prevented the group from taking part in planned on-water coastal rowing sessions, but alternative training activities allowed the programme to continue and the young participants showed strong enthusiasm for future Rowing opportunities.
Beyond coaching and competition, the visit helped establish a more structured approach to athlete development. Training programmes, athlete monitoring and selection processes were developed, with planning extending towards future development and international opportunities.
An important focus of the final visit was also sustainability. Parents, volunteers, coaches and members of the American Samoa Rowing Association became increasingly involved in supporting coaching, administration, equipment maintenance and programme organisation, helping to broaden local ownership of the programme.
While this third visit concludes the DNSS project, it also marks the beginning of its longer-term legacy. American Samoa now has qualified local coaches, developing athletes, competition experience and stronger structures to support the continued development of rowing.
The project was made possible through the valuable support and funding of Olympic Solidarity and the American Samoa National Olympic Committee, in collaboration with World Rowing. These partnerships are essential in helping national Rowing programmes build local capacity and create sustainable opportunities for the sport to grow.
