Regan Captures Gold (Again) in US Eight
9/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
East Lansing, Mich. -- Former Spartan rower Emily Regan won a gold medal in the women's eight on Sunday morning at the World Rowing Championships in Aiguebelette, France. The US captured its 10th consecutive World Championship/Olympic gold medal. Regan sat in the five seat of the women's eight.
The US eight crossed the line in a time of 6:05.650, ahead of silver medalist New Zealand (6:08.52). Canada took bronze in a time of 6:09.050.
Great Britain held an early and very slight lead at the 500-meter mark, with the US just .02 seconds off the pace. The US pulled ahead by 750 meters, and held a three-seat lead over second-place New Zealand at the halfway mark. Racing between its two closest pursuers, the New Zealand crew was struggling to maintain contact with the Red, White, and Blue at 1500 meters, and was being pursued by Canada. With a full-length lead headed into the sprint, the US finished off a strong performance as Canada pushed New Zealand in the final 500 meters. New Zealand had contact with the US at the finish, and Canada was two seats behind to claim the bronze.
Watch the Women's 8+ Final (World Rowing)
A year away from the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, Regan took another step toward her goal of earning a a spot on US roster for the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Today's win qualifies the US for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. However, the selection of the athletes for all US Olympic entries will continue throughout the next year, with the US team selections expected to be announced in late June. A team of 20 women will be selected to compete at the 2016 Games.
The most decorated rower in the history of the Spartan rowing program, Regan pushed her medal count to eight in her five years since joining the US Rowing residency program in Princeton. Earlier this summer, the Buffalo, NY native won a pair of gold medals at World Cup 2 on Lake Varese in Italy. Regan also owns two prior gold and one silver medal from World Championships, one prior gold from the World Cup, and also earned a gold medal in the U23 eight. In 2013, Regan was a part of the US women's eight that set a world-record time at World Rowing Cup III in Rotsee/Lucerne, Switzerland. That time of 5:54.160 is a record which still stands.