Marshall Godschalk, who rowed for Northeastern from 2004-07, has been chosen to represent the Netherlands in the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing. Godschalk will be rowing in the three seat in the Olympic lightweight four without the coxswain. This is an impressive achievement for Godschalk because there are only six seats in Olympic lightweight rowing.

Godschalk made the Netherlands national team for the first time in 2005. He came in fifth place at the Under-23 World Championship rowing in the lightweight four without. In 2006, Godschalk rowed for the Netherlands at the Senior World Championship where the crew came in sixth in the lightweight eight with. In 2007 he rowed as the stroke man in the Netherlands' lightweight eight with, and won the Senior World Championship.

At Northeastern Godschalk rowed three years in the varsity boat, two of which at the bow. In 2006 he helped his crew come in seventh at the IRA and fourth in the Eastern Sprints.

"I would like to thank Northeastern Rowing, especially my Coach John Pojednic for giving me all the support, advice and great coaching in the past four years. Also my teammates who made everything so special. I think Northeastern Rowing has a great program, anybody who rowed there for four years can go on and be successful in life, in whatever they want to do." Godschalk said he is now in South Korea where the crew is training and adjusting to changes in both the time and climate before Beijing.

In high school Godschalk rowed four years at the Pine Crest School. He was named Most Outstanding Rower in 2003 and rowed on the 2003 crew that won the Florida State Championship in the varsity four with. Godschalk is a Dutch citizen from the Island of Curacao in the Dutch Antilles.

Godschalk is the third Northeastern alum to participate in the 2008 summer games. Dan Walsh (United States, rowing) and Zara Northover (Jamaica, track & field) will also take part in the Beijing Olympics.

Northeastern crew has been represented in each of the Olympic summer games since 1972. Olympians include:

1972
Jim Dietz (single)
Bill Miller (4+)

1976
Jim Dietz (single)
Larry Gluckman (8)
Calvin Coffey (2-), Silver
Ernie Arlett (coach)

1980
Jim Dietz (double scull)
Larry Gluckman (coach)

1984
Tom Kiefer (4+), Silver

1988
Jeff McLaughlin (8) Bronze

1992
Jeff McLaughlin (4-), Silver
Pat Manning (4-), Silver
Marko Banovic (4+, for Croatia)

1996
Marko Banovic (2-, for Croatia)

2000
Mike Porterfield (coach)

2004
Dan Walsh (8)
Chris Jarvis (2-, for Canada)

2008
Dan Walsh (8)
Marshall Godschalk (4-, for Netherlands)