Opitz wins third-straight world rowing title
September 06, 2015 | Women's Rowing
Vicky Opitz (lower right) won her third consecutive world rowing championships gold medal in the women's eight.
Sept. 6, 2015
AIGUEBELETTE, France - Racing on the final day of the 2015 World Rowing Championships, Vicky Opitz (Middleton, Wisconsin) took home her third consecutive gold medal in the women's eight, winning the world rowing championship and qualifying the boat for next year's Olympics in Brazil. The final of the women's eight took place on Sunday.
The boat's victory extended the United States women's eight's world championship winning streak to a remarkable 10 years, including gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
Rowing in the bow seat for the Americans, Opitz helped her boat take over the lead and the race in the second 500 meters. The boat reached the 2000-meter finish line in 6:05.650, about a boat length in front of silver medal-winning New Zealand (6:08.520). Canada was third for the bronze in 6:09.050.
The victory for the Americans qualifies the U.S. women's eight for the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Brazil and made USA six-for-six on the women's side in Olympic qualifying.
Opitz will be among those working for a spot on the 2016 Olympic women's eight crew.
The gold medal for Opitz was the second of the championships for a former Badger as Jackson, Michigan's Grace Latz was part of Team USA's first gold medal of the week, winning the women's four on Friday. That event is not an Olympic event.
On the men's side, former Badger Tim Aghai finished ninth overall in the men's pair on Saturday, taking third in the B Final and finishing inside the top-11 to grab the U.S. an Olympic spot in the event. The qualification was one of four for the American men on the week.
On Sunday, Grant James and the men's eight won their B final for seventh place overall. The boat needed to finish in the top five to grab an Olympic spot. Instead, the American men's eight will have to claim a spot next spring.
2015 World Rowing Championships
Aiguebelette, France
Sept. 6, 2015
2,000 meters
Women's Eight (Vicky Opitz)
Final
1. USA, 6:05.650; 2. New Zealand, 6:08.520; 3. Canada, 6:09.050; 4. Great Britain, 6:10.110; 5. Russia, 6:11.490; 6. Netherlands, 6:12.330
Men's Eight (Grant James)
B Final
1. USA, 5:27.640; 2. Poland, 5:29.240; 3. Australia, 5:31.910; 4. France, 5:35.090; 5. Spain, 5:37.290; 6. China, 5:37.330
Sunday
Men's Pair (Tim Aghai)
B Final
1. South Africa, 6:31.230; 2. France, 6:31.570; 3. USA, 6:33.110; 4. Spain, 6:36.810; 5. Romania, 6:38.450; 6. Canada, 6:42.150
Friday
Women's Four (Grace Latz)
Final
1. USA, 6:25.220; 2. Great Britain, 6:31.520; 3. China, 6:35.560; 4. Germany, 6:36.700; 5. Ireland, 6:43.490
