Former Rocker Rolls in Double Scull

Carol Skricki and partner Ruth Davidon advanced to the finals in the double scull by winning their second-chance classifying heat today at Penrith, Australia.

“Every day, I’m amazed,” said Skricki, who was 30 when she first climbed into a scull after the breakup of her alternative rock band. She was 35 when she moved to the double. “Sometimes when we’re out practicing, it just hits me. It’s a great thing.”

The women’s coxless pair of Missy Ryan and Karen Kraft also won their heat in the consolation repechage round. The 1996 Olympic silver medalists also move straight to the finals on Saturday.

They are an inspiring group, having given up the sport immediately after a close loss in Atlanta and then reuniting two years ago. Ryan’s comeback is special because two months after the last Olympics, she donated a kidney to her brother.

The other three U.S. teams that competed advanced to Thursday’s semifinals: single scullers Monica Tranel Michini and Don Smith, and the men’s double scull of Henry Nuzum and Mike Ferry.

The United States is the only country that qualified for all 14 events and is on pace to make all the finals.

Davidon making the finals is no surprise considering she finished sixth in the single sculls in Atlanta. Skricki was among the people she beat in the trials that year.

Skricki entered the race mainly to try catching the eye of the U.S. coaches in hopes of earning a spot on the national team. A few months later, national sculling coach Igor Grinko invited her to a training camp in Augusta, Ga., because he was intrigued by her 6-foot-2 size and strength.