University of California Athletics

One of the few varsity athletes to compete for both a men's and women's program, Val McClain raced as a coxswain for the men’s crew in 1979 and as a cox for the women’s team in 1978, ’81 and ’82. Under men’s coach Steve Gladstone, she coxed the men to an undefeated season and a Pac-10 title in 1979. As a result, she became the first woman to earn a Big C letter in a men’s sport at Cal. McClain remained in the eight for the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley (Cal finished second), becoming the first woman ever to race in the event. Val redshirted in 1980 after qualifying for the women’s four for the 1980 Olympics (boycott), and she later finished fourth in the four at the 1984 Olympics. She earned three silver medals at the World Championships between 1981-83 and was a member of the Women’s Olympic Rowing Committee from 1974-78 and from 1980-84.