Elmore Earns Olympic Gold with U.S. Rowing Women's Eight
8/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Rowing, Olympics
• Michigan Olympic Updates: Rowing | U-M Olympics Coverage
COPACABANA, Brazil -- Former University of Michigan rower Amanda Elmore (2014) earned gold with the United States women's eight today (Saturday, Aug. 13) in the Olympic final, held this morning at Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas.
With Elmore in the stroke seat, the U.S. "great eight" battled top crews from Canada and the Netherlands in the first 1,000 meters of the race, settling into third place just a few seats off the lead. The gold-medal clinching move came before the 1,500-meter mark, as the United States pulled in front by several seats and increased its margin in the final stages of the race, finishing in 6:01.49.
The Olympic victory continued a run of dominance for the United States, which has not lost a championship or Olympic race in the women's eight event since 2006.
Elmore's medal marks the first time a Michigan rowing program alumna has earned gold at the Olympics and the third medal overall in the history of the program. Elmore joins Janine Hansen (silver, Canada women's eight, 2012) and Kate Johnson (silver, U.S. women's eight, 2004) in that distinguished group.
Elmore, a graduate student in the University of Michigan's Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Sciences, considered giving up rowing after a standout career as an undergraduate in Purdue's ARCA club program. Elmore was accepted at Michigan and in her lone season with the Wolverines in 2013-14 made an immediate impact on the first varsity eight. She was named a Pocock All-America second team selection and earned All-Big Ten first team honors.
