When USC entered its first race ever at England’s Henley Royal Regatta (HRR) in 2004, the Trojans were knocked out in the first round by Molesey Boat Club, a British rowing club stacked with national team talent.

But when the Trojan Navy returns to Henley Royal Regatta this month to try its luck again on the River Thames, the crew will have the most decorated oarsman in Molesey Boat Club history onboard with them.

Michael Reynaud, now a graduate student at USC, won three Henley Royal Regatta medals with Molesey Boat Club. The first of these was in the Wyfold coxless fours event and was Molesey’s first win at the Regatta in 125 years. Mike’s most recent HRR win for Molesey was in the Men’s Quadruple Sculls event in 2004.


Reynaud [second from left]

The parallels with USC are evident. USC Crew was first foundered 125 years ago and the program is seeking to break through the first round of the Henley tournament.

Reynaud, 33, who practiced but did not race on the varsity crew during the regular season, says he will be doing all he can to help get the best out of USC: “Nothing would give me greater pleasure than returning to my home country as part of a strong USC crew.”

Trojan Captain Bryan Barrett is excited to have Reynaud as part of the crew for Henley. “Mike brings so much winning experience with him. He is also really encouraging in practice and I think it raises our confidence levels knowing he is onboard for Henley.”

Mike Reynaud started rowing at the age of 13 at Hampton School, England. Two years later he won his first Henley Royal Regatta medal in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup.

Reynaud’s rowing career continued at Oxford Brookes University, where he won HRR on two further occasions – the University’s first ever medals at the Regatta.

Apart from his six HRR medals, Mike has also been a British national champion and won a bronze medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games Championships while racing for England.

Having earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Oxford Brookes University, Mike has renewed his academic studies at USC’s Marshall School of Business where he is just completing the first year of his MBA.

At 6’2” and 200 lbs, he is not just ideally suited for rowing. Reynaud, who moved to the United States in July from England, used his physical talents to gain a taste of the Hollywood experience after only months in Los Angeles.

In March, Reynaud starred on the "The Tyra Banks Show" and 2xist Underwear Contest. The contest, the male version of "America's Next Top Model," provided an opportunity for undiscovered talent to compete. Banks and her show held casting calls in New York and in Los Angeles at the Beverly Center.


Reynaud [second from right]

"For the 'Tyra Show' male model search, we were looking for someone with a positive attitude, lots of personality and someone who also looked great in 2xist underwear," said the show's spokesperson. “Mike is obviously very sexy and his cut-glass English accent makes him most appealing to our female viewers.”

Three in-studio celebrity judges – T.V. personality Jillian Barbarie, "Extra" correspondent and Simon Cowell's girlfriend Terri Seymour and Michael Bergin from "Baywatch" - helped pick the winner and chose Reynaud for the final three.




But Reynaud wasn't necessarily there for the prizes. "I loved doing it. I think it's a funny story," Reynaud told USC’s student newspaper, The Daily Trojan. "It's always nice to have some good photos."

The team departs for England on June 22 and will compete in the Ladies Plate event category of Henley Royal Regatta. To follow Regatta results visit http://hrr.co.uk