By Pete Borello

Hills resident snags 3 medals at international rowing event

In April, 42 years after nearly making the Peruvian Olympic rowing team, Luis Yáñez returned to his native land, oars in hand.

Proving he still had it - and getting a little rowing redemption - the 28-year resident of Los Altos Hills won an unequaled three medals at the International Rowing Regatta in La Punta.

“It was particularly sweet to go back and see some of my old rowing buddies, some of whom had beaten me and gone to the 1960 Rome Olympics,” Yáñez said.

Yáñez, one of five representatives from the California Rowing Association, won a gold, silver and bronze in single scull racing.

He was one of only two U.S. rowers to grab a gold at the regatta, which featured competitors from five countries. All the other winners came from host Peru, where rowing is the national pastime.

Considering he had never before raced 500 meters - the distance of each divisional race - Yáñez was pleasantly surprised by his success.

“I had no idea I was going to do so well,” the 58-year-old said. “I didn’t expect to get into the finals in any of the categories because it’s a different kind of race.”

After two days of qualifying heats, Yáñez found himself in three men’s division finals April 14.

Only the top four rowers in each age division advance to the finals and Yáñez was the oldest to do so in all three categories: A (27-40), B (41-50) and C (50-plus).

“It was a very, very tough course and there was a lot of good competition,” said Yáñez, who was cheered on by his wife Gina, youngest daughter Alicia and several of his Peruvian relatives. “So making the finals in all three categories was pretty significant.”

The day started with the A final, where Yáñez said he raced against “guys who were young enough to be my kids.” He wound up winning the bronze.

The B final soon followed, in which Yáñez said he raced “more young guys” and took home the silver.

Then came the C final. Yáñez said his opponents underestimated him in that race because he had already rowed 1,000 meters that day.

“The competition didn’t think I was going to have a chance,” he said with a grin. “But I didn’t tell anybody that I was saving something for the end because it was my best shot at the gold.”

Yáñez conserved just enough energy, winning “by a bubble” in a photo finish.

“At first, I had no idea I won,” he said of a race he completed in just under two minutes. “With 50 meters to go, I thought I was third, so I sprinted. I thought I got second until they told me I won, and I thought, ‘Oh, my gosh!’”

Most people half Yáñez’s age would probably have trouble finishing - let alone medaling - in three races in a single day. But the former Los Altos Hills planning commissioner isn’t like most people - he’s in much better shape.

Yáñez has a training schedule that could make Jack LaLane cringe.

He rows between 12,000 and 15,000 meters every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning at the Bair Island Aquatic Center in Redwood City. On Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday mornings, Yáñez runs 14-22 miles, much of it on steep hills. He also runs competitively and placed 15th in his age division at last year’s Silicon Valley Marathon.

In the evenings, Yáñez can often be found lifting weights at the El Camino YMCA.

Yáñez has no plans to slow down, not with more big races to row.

In September, Yáñez will travel to Prague in the Czech Republic for the World Rowing Championships.

And next spring, he intends to return to Peru - with an eye on an even bigger prize.

“I have to defend my title,” he said. “If you do, you get a huge trophy.”