Carol Bower rowed in college at UCLA, graduating in 1979. She competed that year at the World Championships, winning a bronze medal with the eights. Bower raced at the Worlds in 1981-83, winning silver medals at each edition, in the eights in 1981 and 1983 and the coxed fours in 1982. In addition to her 1984 Olympic appearance she made the 1980 US Olympic team that did not compete. In 1982 Bower was chosen as Female Athlete-of-the-Year by USA Rowing.
After her competitive career ended, Bower went into coaching. She had started coaching at Yale as an assistant in 1980 while still racing. In 1987 she became head coach of the women’s program at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2002 Bower moved across town to become head coach at Bryn Mawr College. She also coached US national boats at the 1986 Goodwill Games, the 1988 Olympics, and the 1989 World Championships.
United States