Amanda TRiebensee

Athlete

Amanda is an elite rower training with the Advanced Rowing Institute of the Northeast (ARION) in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her rowing career began in 2019 as a freshman walk-on at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she quickly rose to the varsity level, competing in both the Varsity 8+ and Second Varsity 8+. She helped the Badgers achieve a 12th-place finish at the 2021 NCAA Championships and graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, initially believing her time in the sport had come to an end. Her passion for rowing, however, never faded. While studying at Palmer College of Chiropractic, Amanda returned to rowing and coaching with Y-Quad Cities Rowing Club. Encouraged by the athletes she coached and supported by mentors, she chose to pursue her remaining collegiate eligibility and committed to Gonzaga University to earn her Master’s in Sport and Athletic Administration. During her two seasons at Gonzaga, Amanda became a standout athlete and leader. She earned All-American honors, captured a West Coast Conference championship, returned to the NCAA Championships, topped multiple school record boards, and won her first international medal as the stroke seat of the U.S. Women’s 8+ at the 2024 World University Games in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Amanda recognizes that her path to elite rowing has been anything but direct or traditional—and she embraces that. She credits her success to an unwavering determination and a commitment to doing everything to the absolute best of her ability. At only 5'7", she is considered small for the sport, which adds an extra layer of challenge to every step of her journey. But rather than discouraging her, the uphill climb toward making the U.S. National Team and ultimately the Olympic Team fuels her. The difficulty of the pursuit excites her and motivates her to push beyond perceived limits every day. Following her graduation, Amanda transitioned directly into full-time elite training with ARION, where she continues to chase her highest potential and position herself for future international selection. Outside of rowing, Amanda teaches Anatomy & Physiology and Health Sciences at a local high school. In her free time, she enjoys baking sourdough, running, watching Dancing with the Stars, cat sitting, and attending horse races during the summer.