William Bender Family

William Bender is one of the most highly praised rowers who was a senior at Dartmouth College back in 2023. William is from Norwich, Vermont. Although he did not make the Dartmouth freshman rowing team as an undergraduate, his dedication and preparation gave him a spot on the roster. His determination paid off as Bender became one of the outstanding athletes who went on to earn Second Team IRCA All-America honors in 2021 and also rowed at the World Rowing U23 Championships.

Bender's rowing career began at Hanover High, where he captained both the crew and alpine ski teams. Though he initially took it as a hobby and was decent at it, he took a gap year for training with a UK rowing club prior to attending Dartmouth, and with the experience and expertise of the coaches, he excelled in rowing exponentially. His fierce efforts helped him win two gold medals in the pair competitions, one at the 2023 US Rowing Senior National Team Trials and the second at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

In 2024, he made it to the Paris Summer Olympics, teaming up with fellow graduate from Dartmouth Oliver Bub in the men's pair. All their work and fight kept their determination intact, to make this dream a reality. Bender's rise from scrambling recruit to Olympic contender reflects his journey. His story is all about his dedication, fighting back spirit, and most importantly the support from his family and coaching that came his way.

William Bender Parents

William Bender is the son of Bill Bender and Mary Bender. His father, Bill, graduated from Dartmouth in 1978. Rowing is very close to the Bender family's heart, as Bill played a key role in his children being introduced to the sport. Their support and involvement provided an environment that encouraged William's involvement in rowing, fostering both athletics and academics.

William Bender Siblings

William Bender has two brothers and a sister. William's older brother, Ryan, had rowed at Colgate University for four years, after which William was greatly influenced to start rowing. His sister has also rowed, so it is in the family. Altogether, his siblings showed immense interest in rowing which created a supportive and motivating environment. They propelled William’s career to excel forward and follow their sporting footsteps.