Rosts Claims Second Straight Gold at World Rowing U-23 Championships
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia’s Morgan Rosts (Jordan, Ontario) claimed her second straight gold medal in the women’s eight at the 2018 World Rowing Under-23 Championships in Poznan, Poland, on Sunday (July 29).
Rosts and Canada collected their second straight gold medal in the event by topping runner-up Netherlands 6:04.610-6:06.580. Virginia’s Ellie Stewart (London, England) was part of the fourth-place Great Britain crew which finished with a time of 6:08.230.
Rosts and the Canadians also won the event last summer in Bulgaria to extend UVA’s streak of having at least one student-athlete on the gold-medal winning women’s eight at the U-23 Championships to nine consecutive years.
“Last year we were the underdog, this year we were the favorites which had its own pressures and challenges,” Rosts said. “Our coaches, Lesley Thompson-Willie and Dave Thompson, prepared us by never letting us be satisfied and always pushing us to find more speed. Thanks to UVA for developing me and getting me to the position where I could represent my country. I am very honored and happy to keep the UVA gold medal streak alive in the women’s eight!”
The Cavaliers claimed two gold medals and a pair of silver medals at this year’s World U-23 Championships. Rosts and Izzi Weiss (Chicago, Ill.) won gold, while Heidi Long (Buckinghamshire, England) and Martine van den Boomgaard (Amsterdam, Netherlands) each won silver. Stewart added a fourth-place finish for Great Britain in the women’s eight and Isabella Strickler (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) placed sixth in the women’s quadruple sculls for the United States.
“I am so proud of all of the UVA athletes who represented their countries so well at U-23 Worlds, led by Morgan and Izzi’s gold medals and Heidi and Martine’s silvers,” Virginia head coach Kevin Sauer said. “I wish Morgan, Ellie and Martine the best as they move on to the senior teams of Canada, Great Britain and the Netherlands. I am also excited to welcome back Bella, Izzi and Heidi this fall.”