O'Brien Wins Gold at World Rowing Under-23 Championships

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July 28, 2013

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LINZ, Austria—Four members of the Virginia rowing program completed action at the World Rowing Under-23 Championships Sunday (July 28) in Linz, Austria. 2013 UVa graduate Kristine O’Brien won gold with the U.S. women’s eight, while rising senior Fiona Schlesinger claimed silver with the Great Britain women’s eight.

“Congrats to Kristine O’Brien on another gold medal on the international stage!” UVa head coach Kevin Sauer said. “We are going to miss her enthusiasm, tenaciousness and leadership. It was also awesome that Fiona won a silver medal, along with Lizzy winning the B final and Hannah getting a fifth-place finish. We look forward to having them bring their experiences to UVa this fall.”

Incoming UVa freshman Hannah Osborne and the New Zealand women’s quadruple sculls placed fifth in 6:39.03, while rising junior Lizzy Youngling and the U.S. double sculls won the B final to place seventh overall in 7:18.70.

For the second consecutive year, O’Brien was in the stroke seat of the American women’s eight that placed first. The U.S. finished in a time of 6:16.81, while Schlesinger and Great Britain was second in 6:19.15.

O’Brien was a three-time CRCA All-American at UVa and helped the Cavaliers win two NCAA Championships (2010, 2012). The 2012 USRowing Fan’s Choice Collegiate Rower of the Year was in the Virginia Varsity Eight all four years in Charlottesville, including the 2012 crew that won the national title.

It is Schlesinger’s first international medal. The rising senior has been part of the UVa V8 her first three years and was named to the CRCA All-South Region First Team in 2013.

Youngling represented the U.S. at the 2010 and 2011 World Junior Rowing Championships. Osborne earned bronze in the women’s quadruple sculls at the 2012 World Junior Championships.