2025 SESSION

INTRODUCED

25107082D

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 697

Offered February 16, 2025

Commending Claire Collins.

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Patrons—Sullivan; Senator: Boysko

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WHEREAS, McLean native Claire Collins represented the Commonwealth at the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in Paris, France, competing for Team USA in the women's eight rowing event; and

WHEREAS, Claire Collins attended Deerfield Academy boarding school in Massachusetts, where she captained the swimming and volleyball teams and excelled at rowing; and

WHEREAS, Claire Collins earned silver medals at the 2012 Junior World Rowing Championships in the eight+ event and at the 2014 Junior World Rowing Championships in the coxless four event; she also won the US Rowing Youth National Championships in 2014 and 2015 in the women's four event; and

WHEREAS, Claire Collins won a silver medal in the women's eight at the 2017 World Rowing Under 23 Championships and a bronze in the women's eight at the 2018 World Rowing Under 23 Championships; and

WHEREAS, Claire Collins graduated from Princeton University as a three-time All-American and a four-time All-Ivy selection; in 2019, she earned the C. Otto von Kienbusch Award as the top female athlete at Princeton University and was a nominee for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Woman of the Year award; and

WHEREAS, Claire Collins made her Olympic Debut at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, placing seventh overall in the women's coxless four event; and

WHEREAS, Claire Collins continued to compete at the international level, earning a bronze medal in the pair event at the 2022 World Rowing Championships and a silver medal in the pair event at the 2022 World Rowing Cup II; and

WHEREAS, in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, Claire Collins competed in the women's eight event and qualified for the final, where the team finished fifth overall; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Claire Collins for representing the Commonwealth at the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in 2024; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Claire Collins as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for her outstanding athletic achievements and best wishes for the future.