Allen certainly knows what it's like to line up on the start line at the Olympics. He was an Olympic gold medalist in 2004 and bronze medalist in 2008 — both in the men's eight.
"I remember being incredibly nervous in the lead up to racing," said Allen, who just finished his 10th year as Dartmouth's Betsy and Mark Gates 1959 Head Coach of Men's Heavyweight Rowing. "Getting to the start line, I remember locking into the starting platform, looking at the light system that indicates the start and thinking, 'I've been here before.' It was no different than competing in the World Championships [the year prior]."
As Bender and Bub's coach, Allen's hopes to prepare them for not only the technical rowing aspects, but also — and perhaps most importantly — the intangible facets of the Olympic experience.
From left to right: Bub, Allen and Bender
"A lot of what I'm doing is reminding them that it's just another race," said Allen. "You feel a lot more pressure, but at the end of the day, it's six boats across racing, which they both have a lot of experience with. You have to trust in that, rely on the experience and use that to execute as best as possible."
As an athlete in 2004, Allen was part of a crew that executed nearly flawlessly, despite Canada coming in as the heavy favorites. The United States won silver the year prior at the World Championships, but the U.S. crew in 2004 featured a significantly different lineup.
"We were a bit of an unknown and certainly weren't favored," said Allen. "I believe we were seeded fourth, but then we won our heat. We were in the heat with the Canadian boat and we beat them by a couple tenths of a second. Both boats broke the world record.
"We became the favorites going into the final."
Allen and his crew became Olympic gold medalists, which has led to indescribable pride. It's something he is reliving today as a coach — alongside Bender, Bub and the 2024 Olympic rowers.
"All the athletes and coaches recently received their gear packages and I still felt like that college junior who made my first United States Under 23 team and got that first piece of gear that said USA across the front," said Allen. "It's an awesome honor and I feel like I get to appreciate it more and more over time."
Allen called his first Olympics a "whirlwind."
"I was young and wide-eyed," he said. "Everything's happening so quickly, and then you win and it's a week-long party. The next thing you know, you're home. Going into Beijing (2008 Summer Olympics), I was much more deliberate in staying in the moment, enjoying the process, enjoying the regatta itself and just enjoying being around the games in the Olympic Village.
"It's 16 years later, and it's still hard to believe that I get to go to this summer's Olympics and represent the United States — not on the race course, but be part of the coaching staff, be around these athletes and look for ways to help them," Allen continued.
"It's a huge honor."
Allen always had a short-term view in rowing, which proved beneficial. He started rowing in college at the University of Virginia, which was a club team.
"It was as simple as there were tryouts and I wanted to make the team," he said. "I just barely made the team my freshman year, then I wanted to make the varsity my sophomore year and did that. That approach summarizes how I went through my college career and then elite career."
That short-term view continued. When Allen learned about the process to make the Under-23 National Team, he became focused on making it. Eventually came the thought of making the Senior National Team.
"At that point, the training center was in Princeton, New Jersey, which is where you had to go if you wanted to make the team," he said. "First, I found out how to get invited there, then once I got invited, it was about how long I could stick around. I ended up making a boat for the World Championships in 2002 and then another boat in 2003."
Allen was in sculling boats those years (two oars) before being switched back to sweep (one oar).
"I probably started getting Olympic aspirations in 2002-03, but I was focused on making a boat in each given year," he said.
In 2004, the U.S. men's eight for the Olympics was far from typical, featuring five college walk-ons with few representatives from traditional rowing powerhouses.
"It was this unique blend of backgrounds, experiences and personalities," said Allen. "I was recently out on the water with the Olympic eight, and they remind me a lot of that [2004] crew. I told them everything they have done is fast and they get along really well. It seems like they have fun in the boat together.
"That sort of levity and fun approach was a big piece of the puzzle for the 2004 crew."
Bender and Bub certainly don't have to worry much about chemistry. Although they never rowed together at Dartmouth (they missed each other by one year), they have felt connected — because of Dartmouth and rowing together through the California Rowing Club.
Allen with Bub and Bender when they trained at Dartmouth in June
Someone like Bub continuing to row after college is common for Big Green alums. Allen has helped create an environment that fosters love for the sport and wanting to pursue it at the international level.
"We take a lot of pride in having a lot of guys who make that step and continue training after they graduate," said Allen. "Obviously, Billy's doing it before he graduates. They're excited to continue rowing."
The student-athletes' excitement, coupled with their development and Allen's knowledge and connections, have led to a success story like Bender and Bub.
"I understand the process of developing rowers to the level where they're being considered for an Under 23 team or a senior team," said Allen. "I know a lot of the coaches who are involved in the process, such as my old Olympic coach Mike Teti, who runs the California Rowing Club."
The California Rowing Club has proven valuable in Bender and Bub being where they are today.
When Bender approached Allen about aspiring for the 2024 Olympics, Allen was nothing but supportive, even though it meant he would lose Bender at Dartmouth for the spring of his senior year.
"Obviously, he would have helped us big time this year," said Allen. "We had a really good group and the role Billy serves when he sits in either stroke or six seat is huge. It was a little bit of a gut punch [to our Dartmouth 2023-24 team], but I advised him to go for it."
Last summer, Bender qualified the United States men's pair for the Olympics with a fifth-place finish at the World Championships.
"At that point, it wasn't even a question if [the Olympics] were possible," said Allen. "Billy had made the grand final in arguably one of the most competitive events in the world, so it was pretty easy to say you're doing the right thing. There's no way you don't chase this dream."
That Olympic dream is now a reality. It's a great story for not only Bender, Bub and Allen, but also Dartmouth as a whole.
"It's really unusual that you get two guys coming out of the same college program that fit in a small boat together and are able to generate the speed you need to win Olympic trials," said Allen. "Individually, they're exceptional, they're fun guys and they've both been leaders in the program and given a ton back to Dartmouth rowing.
Oliver Bub with Wyatt Allen
"They're just an awesome combination to work with," Allen continued. "It's a total pleasure to coach them every day. They are very open and receptive to coaching, which I really appreciate."
In May, the duo went to Switzerland for World Cup II and raced a big portion of the Olympic field. They were right in the thick of things, finishing fourth in the B final.
"It's a little bit of a cliche, but it's a game of inches," said Allen. "A couple tenths of a second in the pair could be the difference between three or four spots, especially with how this field is starting to shake out. If they get themselves into the A final [at the Olympics], all bets are off when you're racing for medals."
Bender and Bub hope to capture an Olympic medal, just like their coach who they both look up to.
Speaking of that coach, this summer has featured continued learning for Allen. He couldn't be more grateful for the experience.
"I'm learning a ton every day," said Allen. "I'm learning from the athletes and I'm learning from the other coaches on staff, so there's certainly a ton of benefits for me personally being here, which should hopefully translate to the Dartmouth program when I return."
As Allen said, Bender and Bub have gotten to this point mostly by themselves, through their focus, hard work and determination.
"I feel like my role is to help them finish the job."
When senior Billy Bender and alum Oliver Bub qualified for the Olympics in the men's pair, they knew who to call. Their college head coach and former Olympic Gold Medalist Wyatt Allen.
Men's Heavyweight Rowing at Eastern Sprints Post Race 5-18-25Men's Heavyweight Rowing at Eastern Sprints Post Race 5-18-25
Wednesday, May 21
Men's Heavyweight Rowing Lake Morey Invitational Post Regatta Interviews 4-27-25Men's Heavyweight Rowing Lake Morey Invitational Post Regatta Interviews 4-27-25
Sunday, April 27
Big Green to Paris: Billy Bender and Oliver BubBig Green to Paris: Billy Bender and Oliver Bub
.png&width=36&height=36&type=webp)
