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4-21-26
Mike Knopp: “OKC Olympic City: An Update on the LA28 Olympics and the Legacy for the Entire State”
Annual Rotary Club of Tulsa Exchange
A passion for rowing and paddling and a vision for bringing national and international sports to the Oklahoma River have been the driving force behind Mike Knopp’s leadership in developing the Oklahoma City rowing and paddling community, the Boathouse District, national and international sporting events, and ultimately, the master plan development of the Oklahoma River.
Originally a practicing attorney, Mike left his legal career in 2003 to establish the Oklahoma City University varsity rowing program and assume the position of executive director of the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation. Bringing corporate, civic and community leaders together, Mike has led multiple Oklahoma River initiatives including:
- Establishment of the first boathouse on the newly redeveloped Oklahoma River. The Chesapeake Boathouse opened in January 2006 as Oklahoma City’s community boathouse and the cornerstone of the Boathouse District.
- Development of the $10 million Devon Boathouse and OKC National High Performance Center project; the $6 million Chesapeake Finish Line Tower which functions as the visitor center to the Boathouse District; the University of Central Oklahoma Boathouse, RIVERSPORT Adventures, and the Oklahoma City’s $45 million RIVERSPORT Rapids whitewater rafting and kayaking center.
- The Oklahoma Regatta Festival and OCU Head of the Oklahoma regatta, established in 2004. Now recognized as one of the nation’s top rowing races and an innovator in the sport of rowing with the addition of the nation’s first sanctioned night racing.
- The annual Stars & Stripes River Festival featuring corporate and community racing in both rowing and paddle sports, plus a family-friendly festival.
- Numerous national and international events including national championships in both rowing and canoe/kayak, “ITU Boathouse International Triathlon”, the USA Rowing World Challenge, International Canoe Federation Marathon World Championship, the US Olympic Trials (hosted multiple times), the globally televised ICF Super Cup, and upcoming Canoe/Kayak Slalom World Championship.
- Earning the honor of serving as an official US Olympic and Paralympic Training Site in both rowing and canoe/kayak since 2009.
- Securing the selection of Oklahoma City as one of four cities in America to launch the Outdoor Foundation’s THRIVE Outside initiative aimed to make a generational change in outdoor culture among youth.
- Leading the effort to secure RIVERSPORT, in partnership with LA28, as the whitewater slalom and kayak cross events for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Mike has been recognized with the following awards and recognition:
- Oklahoma City University Employee of the Year
- Oklahoma City Business Record Forty Under Forty Award
- Journal Record Achievers Under Forty Award
- Leadership OKC Class XXV
- Dean A. McGee Awards Recipient (Neil Horton Award) – 2008
- March of Dimes Headliner Special Award – 2009
- Harry Parry Award for Foundation Excellence – 2008
- US Rowing Jack Kelly Award – 2012
- Oklahoma City University Abe Lemons/ Paul Hansen Award for Sports Excellence – 2012
- Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame Appreciation Award, 2015
- Gift to the World Award – Rotary Club of OKC – 2016
- OKC Beautiful Distinguished Service Visionary Award – 2017
- Silver Beaver Award, Boy Scouts of America
- Oklahoma Creativity Ambassador
- Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Visionary Award – 2021
- Oklahoma Bar Association Trailblazer Award – 2022
- Journal Record – Most Influential Leaders in Oklahoma – 2022
- Visit OKC Hometown Hero Award – 2023
- OKC Business – Most Influential Leader – 2023
- Northwest Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce Hall of Honor – 2025
Originally from Kansas, Mike discovered rowing as a high school student in Annapolis, Maryland, watching the crew from the U.S. Naval Academy. He began pursuing his passion as an undergraduate at Oklahoma State University where he met his wife, Tempe, a fellow rower, and helped re-establish OSU’s club rowing program.
Mike went on to earn a juris doctorate from the University of Oklahoma where he founded OU’s club crew. While in law school, Mike had the opportunity to row at Oxford, United Kingdom, further fueling his passion for the sport and its potential in the United States.
In the late 1990s, Mike and Tempe established a home in NE Oklahoma City and were instrumental in organizing the Oklahoma Association for Rowing at Lake Overholser in Oklahoma City. A few short years later, Mike took note as the city’s MAPS program began rejuvenating the then-North Canadian River. His vision was clear as he looked toward a future that included community and collegiate rowing programs, construction of a community boathouse, and rowing events – regional, national and international – coming to life on the Oklahoma River.
Mike soon left his successful legal career to dedicate his energies full-time to building Oklahoma City’s potential as “America’s next great rowing city.” In 2003, Mike was named head rowing coach at Oklahoma City University and, shortly thereafter, executive director of the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation. Mike currently serves in the role of Founder of the RIVERSPORT Foundation and is focusing on securing Oklahoma City’s role in the Olympic Games as the home to the canoe slalom and kayak cross events for LA28. He is also leading RIVERSPORT America which is working to engage communities outside of OKC in rowing and paddlesports as OIympic legacy initiatives.
In just over a decade, Mike has led Oklahoma City to the forefront of the national and international rowing and kayaking communities while also developing significant community interest and participation in the sports.
Career and Public Service
- Oklahoma County Assistant District Attorney
- General Counsel, Federal Aviation Administration
- President and Founder, Oklahoma Association for Rowing
- Head Men’s and Women’s Rowing Coach, Oklahoma City University
- Executive Director, RIVERSPORT Foundation
- Bricktown Association, Board Member
- MAPS 3 River Subcommittee Member
- OU Medical Center Hospital Operations Council
- Oklahoma City Community Foundation Parks and Public Spaces Wellness Committee Member
- Leadership Oklahoma City, Board Member
- Boy Scouts of America, Last Frontier Council Executive Board Member
- Rotary Club of Oklahoma City Board Member, Secretary
- Cub Scout Den Leader and Assistant Scout Master
- USA Canoe/Kayak, Board Member
- Oklahoma City Sports Consortium President and Board Member
- Oklahoma City Energy Professional Soccer Advisory Board Member
- Whitewater Slalom Foundation Board Member
- Committee of 100 Board Member
- Oklahoma City Energy FC Advisory Board Member
- Council of Hope Member, Susan G. Komen Central and Western Oklahoma
- Member of the OU Medical Center Hospital Operations Council
- Creativity Oklahoma Board Member and Officer
- USRowing Level 3 Certified Coach
Chair of the Day
Lance McDaniel
Well done, Lance. I am a big fan of Mikels since that day he spoke to Rotary and described his vision to Rotary in 2004 (??). I took a series of 8-man (actually 2 men and 6 young women) rowing lessons from him. I have my own list of difference-makers in Oklahoma City, dating back to my arrival here in 1968. Mike is near the top.
Thank you for helping spread the work about this remarkable man.