Former Cavaliers to Compete at World Championships

Sept. 21, 2017

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Five former University of Virginia rowers will compete at the 2017 World Rowing Championships from Sept. 24-Oct. 1 in Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.

Former UVA standouts Susanne Grainger (Class of 2013), Inge Janssen (Class of 2010), Kristine O’Brien (2013), Meghan O’Leary (Class of 2008) and Christine Roper (Class of 2011) are scheduled to compete in the first international rowing competition held in the United States in over 20 years. UVA has been represented by five or more competitors in each of the last four World Rowing Championships.

Grainger and Roper will represent Canada in the women’s four and women’s eight. Grainger and Roper made their Olympic debuts at the 2016 Rio Olympics and have earned medals in the women’s eight in each of the last three world championship regattas for Canada.

O’Brien returns to the U.S. National Team after serving as an assistant coach for UVA last season. O’Brien earned a gold medal for the U.S. in the women’s four in her international debut at the 2015 World Rowing Championships in France.

O’Leary, a former UVA volleyball and softball player, makes her fourth consecutive World Championship appearance in the U.S. women’s double. O’Leary made her Olympic debut in Rio in 2016.

Janssen, who captured a silver medal at the Rio Olympics, will compete in the women’s quad for the Netherlands. Janssen has been competing internationally since 2011.

Fan can follow the action at the World Rowing Championships online at worldrowing.com.