Laryssa Biesenthal

Laryssa Biesenthal (born June 22, 1971) is a Canadian former representative rower. She is a dual Olympic medallist and represented Canada in sweep-oared and sculling boats at four World Rowing Championships, medalling on each occasion. She is married to Olympic rower Iain Brambell.

Rowing career Biesenthal first started rowing as a student at the University of British Columbia in 1990.

She made her national representative debut for Canada at the 1995 World Rowing Championships in Tampere, Finland, where she won a silver medal in the quadruple sculls event with Kathleen Heddle, Marnie McBean and Diane O’Grady. This same quad won bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. She has been Head Coach at the Brentwood College School on Vancouver Island and in 2022 took a senior coaching role at the Sydney University Boat Club.

Biesenthal has worked as a World Rowing Development Coach in Asia and Oceania was inducted into the University of British Columbia Hall of Fame in 2014.