Mickelson Crew: Anna's Bio

ANNA CUMMINS
Olympic Gold and Silver medalist and three-time FISA World Champion
Began Rowing: University of Washington, 1999
High School: Newport High School, Bellevue, Wash.
Undergraduate Education: University of Washington, Communications
Occupation: Wellness Coordinator for Cummins Chiropractic and National Rowing Foundation Shields Fellow
Coaches: Tom Terhaar, US National Team; Emil Kossev, Pocock Rowing Center; Jan Harville, University of Washington; Eleanor McElvaine, University of Washington

Golden girl
Cummins was one of three women in the US women’s eight-oared shell who won silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics. At the 2008 Games in Beijing, Cummins and her teammates beat Romania, their rivals, to win gold -- the first U.S. gold in the women's eight since 1984 and the first time ever with a race distance of 2,000 meters.

Back for more
Anna Cummins (formerly Mickelson) rowed impressively since winning a silver medal in the eight at the 2004 Games. Since 2005, she doubled up at the World Championships by racing both the pair and the eight, the only athlete on the team to tackle such a schedule. She won four World Cup medals in the pair and qualified the boat for the Olympics in 2007. While rowing the pair, she won two consecutive World Championships in the women’s eight in 2006 and 2007, including setting a new World Record of 5 minutes, 55.50 seconds in 2006. Most impressively, she and her teammates rowed away from the field at the 2008 Olympic Games to win the gold.

From running to rowing
A tri-varsity athlete in high school, Cummins captained the cross-country, basketball and track teams and earned twelve varsity letters. Her father, brother and sister-in-law all ran track at the University of Washington, and Cummins hoped to do the same. But after arriving as a freshman, it was the crew team that recruited her for her height and athletic build. With Cummins' help, the UW Varsity crew team won the national title in the varsity four in 1999 and the varsity eight in both 2001 and 2002 at the NCAA Championships.

Newlywed
In December 2007, Anna married Bob Cummins, a former UW Husky and member of the 1997 and 1998 national rowing teams. "It was perfect," she says of the ceremony. "A lot of family and a lot of rowers were there." They honeymooned close to home, staying at her family's cabin on Lake Quinault in Washington, a favorite vacation spot for Anna since childhood.

Post-Olympics
After the Olympics, Cummins and her husband, Bob, are opening a chiropractic and wellness office in Bellevue, WA. Bob is a Doctor of Chiropractic and Anna, who graduated in 2002 with a communications degree, will lead the Wellness programs and coaching of patients to live full and healthy lives.

International Results:

2008 Won Olympic gold sitting in the five-seat of the women’s eight, defeating the three-time defending Olympic champions and bringing the gold back to the US for the first time in 24 years… placed 7th in the pair with partner Portia McGee… represented the US at the Beijing Olympics in the women's pair and the women's eight, the only American woman to row in two events... Won the pair at the US Olympic Trials… Won bronze in the pair at the Lucerne World Cup with partner Portia McGee.

2007 Won the gold medal in the women's eight sitting in the five-seat ... placed 7th in the women's pair with last minute partner Portia Johnson due to an injured Megan Cooke, qualifying both boats for the 2008 Olympic Games... Won the silver medal in the women's pair at the Lucerne World Cup with partner Megan Cooke... Won the silver medal in the women's pair at the Lintz World Cup with partner Megan Cooke.

2006 Won the gold medal in the women's eight setting a new World's Best time of 5:55.50 and placed 4th in the women's pair with partner Megan Cooke at the FISA World Championships... Won the gold medal in the women's pair at the Lucerne World Cup with partner Megan Cooke... Won the Remenham Challenge Cup at the Royal Henley Regatta sitting five-seat in the US women's eight... placed fifth at the Munich World Cup in the women's pair with partner Megan Cooke.

2005 Stroked the women's quad to a 5th place finish at the 2005 World Championships in Gifu, Japan... Won bronze in the women's quad at the Munich World Cup.

2004 Won silver medal in women's eights at 2004 Olympic Games... Won gold medals in the eight at the Lucerne and Munich Bearing Point World Cup.

2003 Fifth in women's eights at the 2003 World Championships... won gold medals at Munich and Milan World Cup Regattas... Won gold in women's pair without coxswain 500 meter dash at FISA Team Cup Regatta.

2002 Won the gold medal in the eight at the 2002 World Championships.

2001 Finished fourth in the eight at the 2001 World Championships.

2000 Won a gold medal in the four at the 2000 Nation's Cup (Under 23 World Championships)...Won a gold medal in the eight at the 2000 Henley Women's Regatta with the University of Washington.

National Results:

2008 Won women's pair at U.S. Olympic Trials with partner Portia McGee.

2007 Won women's pair at U.S. National Selection Regatta II... won the women's eight at USRowing Nationals... placed second in the pair at USRowing nationals (first American crew)... won the women's eight at the Head of the Charles Regatta.

2006 Won women's pair at U.S. National Selection Regatta I, II, and III... won the women's eight at the Head of the Charles Regatta... placed 3rd in the USRowing Fall Speed order in the women's pair with partner Lindsay Shoop.

2005 Second in women's double at U.S. National Selection Regatta II with partner Kelly Salchow... Stroked the US Scullers Eight to a fun race at high rates at the Head of the Charles... 5th in women's pair at USRowing Fall Speed Order with partner Lianne Nelson.

2004 Won women's double sculls at 2004 Head of the Lake Regatta in Seattle with partner Heather Wakely... Fifth in championship eights at 2004 Head of the Charles... Finished first in women's pair without coxswain at U.S. National Selection Regatta II and third in women's pair without coxswain at U.S. National Selection Regatta I with partner Sam Magee.

2003 Finished second in championship eights at 2003 Head of the Charles Regatta.

2002 - 1999 Won the eight at the 2001 and 2002 USRowing National Championships... Won the national title in the varsity eight at the 2001 and 2002 NCAA Championships... Finished second in the varsity eight at the 2000 NCAA Championships...Won the national title in the varsity four at the 1999 NCAA Championships.

Personal: Anna is thrilled with her gold medal performance at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China... Anna is a three time World Champion in the women's eight (2007, 2006, 2002)... Mickelson made herself known as a small boat contender with partner Megan Cooke and Portia McGee at the World Cups and FISA World Championships in 2006 and 2007... The 4th place finish in the pair in 2006 was the best finish for the US since the 2000 Olympic Games... Anna is back to sweep rowing after sculling in 2005 ... She is a six-time senior national team member and three time NCAA Champion... She earned 12 letters and captained all three teams as she ran track and cross-country and played basketball at Newport High School in Bellevue, Wash... Anna married Bob Cummins December 22, 2007 in their home state of Washington.... Her husband, Dr. Bob Cummins, supported her endless hours of training with chiropractic care from Rowe Chiropractic in New York City as well as complete understanding of the US National team as he sat bow in the 1997 US men's eight that won the FISA World Championships... Anna's sister in law, Angie (Cummins) Sievers was on the 1997 US team in the women's lightweight quad... Anna loves running the trails of Washington with her older brother, Erik, and his wife, Aleah...Her biggest fans are her parents, Dave and Denise Mickelson of Bellevue, Wash. who have attended almost all of her races... Her favorite place on earth is the Ole Mickelson Cabin on Lake Quinault, built in 1927 by her Great Grandfather... Anna's family and friends are a great source of support and inspiration for her to become the best rower possible... Anna and her husband are currently opening a chiropractic and wellness office in the Spring of 2009… Anna enjoys public speaking on teamwork, health, wellness, and her adventures through sport.

Other Bios of Anna:

USRowing

NBCOlympics