Mercer Island resident Chris Wales is preparing for the 2012 Junior World Rowing Championships later this summer in Bulgaria.

While many are watching the London Olympics, Wales and the team of rowers from around the United States will be training for the junior men’s quad race at the World Championships, held Aug. 14-19 in Plodviv, Bulgaria.

Coached by Conal Groom, the team trains at the Seattle Rowing Center. Wales, who will be a senior at Seattle Prep in the fall, also won gold at the youth men’s single rowing championship in Tennessee earlier this year.

He is a member of the Seattle Rowing Center.