Jesse Karmazin '07, a former Princeton heavyweight rower, added to an impressive summer for Princeton crew alumni. Following a gold medal win for Caroline Lind '06 and a bronze medal win for Steve Coppola '06 at the Summer Olympics, Karmazin led the U.S. to a silver medal at the recently-completed 2008 Paralympic Games.

In the legs, trunk and arms mixed four with coxswain, the crew of Simona Chin (Houston, Texas), Jamie Dean (Pickerington, Ohio), Jesse Karmazin (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.), Tracey Tackett (Phoenixville, Pa.) and Emma Preuschl (Indianapolis, Ind.) clocked a 3:37.61 for the silver medal. Italy led from the start, winning gold in a 3:33.13. The U.S. crew was in third place through the 750-meter mark, but powered through Great Britain in the sprint to cross just 0.76 seconds ahead. Great Britain took bronze in a 3:38.37, with Germany fourth in a 3:41.71. China finished in fifth place with a 3:44.15, followed by Canada in a 3:45.66.

This was the first year for medals awarded at the Paralympic Games. The finals were held at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park in Beijing, China.