From coaches to athletes, the Bay Area is home to some of the country's best rowers, and that includes the U.S. Olympic men's eight.

One of the most decorated rowing coaches in history, Mike Teti, guides his crew through grueling practices with one goal in mind: Bringing home a gold medal.

"There's two types of athletes who come home from the Olympics," Teti said. "Those with medals and those without."

Teti should know.

This will be his 8th Olympic Games: He won a bronze as an athlete, and coached three of his teams to medals, including a gold in 2004.

The men's 8 rowing team includes three rowers with Bay Area ties, including Piedmont native and Cal graduate, Zach Vlahos. He's the team's coxswain, the crew member who sits at the stern steering the boat and yelling out commands.

Two Stanford graduates, Jake Cornelius and David Banks, are also on the team. Of the three, only Banks is a returning Olympian.

Other team members include:

• Grant and Ross James, both of DeKalb, Ill.
• Steve Kasprzyk of Cinnaminson, N.J.
• Giuseppe Lanzone of Annandale, Va.
• Will Miller of Duxbury, MA
• Brett Newlin of Riverton, WY.

The men's 8 first Olympic race is July 28th. Coach Teti said he has his eye on Germany as the team to beat.

Watch the full report on the rowing team at 6 p.m.

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