Simmonds, Snyder Win Olympic Gold In U.S. Eight
August 13, 2016 | Women's Rowing
Four Huskies in the U.S. men's eight finish in fourth place in Rio.
Two Washington rowing alumnae – Katelin Snyder '09 and Kerry Simmonds '11 – earned Olympic gold medals Saturday as the United States women's eight continued its 11-year reign atop the sport with a victory in Rio de Janeiro.
The United States women won their 11th consecutive major regatta – World Championships and Olympics – a streak that dates back to 2006. Snyder had coxed four of those World Champion crews, while Simmonds rowed in two, but both were competing in their first Olympics. There has been at least one Husky in all 11 of those championship crews.
Snyder won back-to-back Intercollegiate Rowing Association championships as the coxswain for the UW men's varsity eight in 2008 and 2009, while Simmonds rowed in the Washington women's varsity eight in 2010 and 2011.
Also, Saturday, the United States men's eight, featuring UW alums Sam Ojserkis '12, Sam Dommer '13, Rob Munn' 12 and Hans Struzyna '11, finished fourth in the final, the last race of the 2016 Olympic Regatta.
In the women's gold-medal race, Canada crossed the 500-meter mark in first place, with the U.S. a close third in a bunched group of shells. At the halfway point, things hadn't changed much, with the American a half-second back of Canada in third.
But just after 1,000 meters, the U.S. eased in front, quickly taking the lead. By 1,500 meters, the Americans were six seats in front of the second-place Canadians and moving well.
While other crews battled for silver and bronze medals, the U.S. shell maintained nearly a boat-length lead across the finish line, while the British edged Romania in a photo finish for the silver.
The Americans won the gold in 6:01.490. Great Britain was second in 6:03.980, with Romania taking the bronze in 6:04.100.
"This is my first Olympic victory," Snyder told WorldRowing.com, "to it feels pretty awesome."
"There was a lot of pressure," Simmonds added, "but I tried to keep thinking of it as just another race. It's so amazing. It's electric."
The men's final followed, with the American boat, which qualified for the Games via the last-chance regatta in Lucerne in May, in lane five.
At 500 meters, one second separated the top four crews, including the Americans in fourth and Great Britain leading. At 1,000 meters, the U.S. had fallen to fifth place as the British moved into a nearly unreachable lead. At 1,500 meters, the U.S. was fourth, trying to reel in the Dutch or the Germans for a medal.
Neither crew would yield, however, as both Germany and the Netherlands instead closed the gap on the British. In the end, Great Britain (5:29.630) won by four seats over Germany (5:30.960) with the Netherlands (5:31.590) taking third. The U.S. men finished in a time of 5:34.230.
Washington had 12 former rowers and coxswains compete at the Olympic games: eight for the U.S. and four for Canada. The Huskies returned home with three medals as Patricia Obee '14 joined the two U.S. women with a silver medal for Canada in the lightweight women's double sculls.
The United States women won their 11th consecutive major regatta – World Championships and Olympics – a streak that dates back to 2006. Snyder had coxed four of those World Champion crews, while Simmonds rowed in two, but both were competing in their first Olympics. There has been at least one Husky in all 11 of those championship crews.
Snyder won back-to-back Intercollegiate Rowing Association championships as the coxswain for the UW men's varsity eight in 2008 and 2009, while Simmonds rowed in the Washington women's varsity eight in 2010 and 2011.
Also, Saturday, the United States men's eight, featuring UW alums Sam Ojserkis '12, Sam Dommer '13, Rob Munn' 12 and Hans Struzyna '11, finished fourth in the final, the last race of the 2016 Olympic Regatta.
In the women's gold-medal race, Canada crossed the 500-meter mark in first place, with the U.S. a close third in a bunched group of shells. At the halfway point, things hadn't changed much, with the American a half-second back of Canada in third.
But just after 1,000 meters, the U.S. eased in front, quickly taking the lead. By 1,500 meters, the Americans were six seats in front of the second-place Canadians and moving well.
While other crews battled for silver and bronze medals, the U.S. shell maintained nearly a boat-length lead across the finish line, while the British edged Romania in a photo finish for the silver.
The Americans won the gold in 6:01.490. Great Britain was second in 6:03.980, with Romania taking the bronze in 6:04.100.
"This is my first Olympic victory," Snyder told WorldRowing.com, "to it feels pretty awesome."
"There was a lot of pressure," Simmonds added, "but I tried to keep thinking of it as just another race. It's so amazing. It's electric."
The men's final followed, with the American boat, which qualified for the Games via the last-chance regatta in Lucerne in May, in lane five.
At 500 meters, one second separated the top four crews, including the Americans in fourth and Great Britain leading. At 1,000 meters, the U.S. had fallen to fifth place as the British moved into a nearly unreachable lead. At 1,500 meters, the U.S. was fourth, trying to reel in the Dutch or the Germans for a medal.
Neither crew would yield, however, as both Germany and the Netherlands instead closed the gap on the British. In the end, Great Britain (5:29.630) won by four seats over Germany (5:30.960) with the Netherlands (5:31.590) taking third. The U.S. men finished in a time of 5:34.230.
Washington had 12 former rowers and coxswains compete at the Olympic games: eight for the U.S. and four for Canada. The Huskies returned home with three medals as Patricia Obee '14 joined the two U.S. women with a silver medal for Canada in the lightweight women's double sculls.
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