Photo by: USRowing
Former Badger earns 2020 Olympic qualification at World Rowing Championships
September 02, 2019 | Men's Rowing, Women's Rowing
Five former Wisconsin rowers competed for Team USA in Austria
LINZ-OTTENSHEIM, Austria – After a long week of competition for five former Badgers at the 2019 World Rowing Championships, they helped Team USA and themselves get one step closer to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The event ran from Aug. 25-Sept. 1.
Franklin, Wisconsin, native Sophia Vitas made her second national team appearance, racing with the women's quadruple sculls to earn a seventh-place finish and the boat a ticket to the Tokyo. The 2019 World Championships doubled as the main qualification regatta for the 2020 Olympic Games and the 2020 Paralympic Games.
Vitas helped her boat earn first in their B final Aug. 31, surpassing Italy by over five seconds at a time of 6 minutes, 40.110 seconds. The team had the fourth fastest time out of both finals after taking third in their repechage on Aug. 29.
Middleton native Victoria Opitz and Neenah native Maddie Wanamaker raced together in the women's four last week. After helping their team take third in the semifinals with a time of 6:25.800, the boat competed in the A final on Saturday, taking sixth with a time of 6:55.980. They still qualified their boat for Tokyo, as well.
Tristan Amberger (Towson, Md.) and Michael Knippen (Germantown, Wis.) joined their fellow Wisconsin alums in Linz, racing in the men's quadruple sculls.
The duo helped their boat take first in the C final Saturday with a time of 5:48.610, topping Austria by over four seconds. Team USA's men's quads had the best time out of all three finals, despite finishing 13th overall.
The event ran from Aug. 25-Sept. 1.
Franklin, Wisconsin, native Sophia Vitas made her second national team appearance, racing with the women's quadruple sculls to earn a seventh-place finish and the boat a ticket to the Tokyo. The 2019 World Championships doubled as the main qualification regatta for the 2020 Olympic Games and the 2020 Paralympic Games.
Vitas helped her boat earn first in their B final Aug. 31, surpassing Italy by over five seconds at a time of 6 minutes, 40.110 seconds. The team had the fourth fastest time out of both finals after taking third in their repechage on Aug. 29.
Middleton native Victoria Opitz and Neenah native Maddie Wanamaker raced together in the women's four last week. After helping their team take third in the semifinals with a time of 6:25.800, the boat competed in the A final on Saturday, taking sixth with a time of 6:55.980. They still qualified their boat for Tokyo, as well.
Tristan Amberger (Towson, Md.) and Michael Knippen (Germantown, Wis.) joined their fellow Wisconsin alums in Linz, racing in the men's quadruple sculls.
The duo helped their boat take first in the C final Saturday with a time of 5:48.610, topping Austria by over four seconds. Team USA's men's quads had the best time out of all three finals, despite finishing 13th overall.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Rowing
/ Men's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
Raceday Highlights || Eastern Michigan
Saturday, October 25
Macy Mosner - Ball of Sunshine
Tuesday, May 14
Vicky Opitz Media Conference || Wisconsin Women's Rowing || May 6, 2024
Monday, May 06
Vicky Opitz Season Preview
Thursday, March 14
