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Roper, Grainger and Canada Claim Gold in Women’s Eight

Christine Roper (L) and Susanne Grainger (R) helped Canada to the gold medal in the women's eight at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Photo: Getty Images

TOKYO, JAPAN – Former Virginia standouts Christine Roper (2011) and Susanne Grainger (2013) helped Canada to a gold medal in the women’s eight Thursday (July 29) at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Canada held off a late charge by New Zealand to claim gold with a winning time of 5:59.13. New Zealand won silver at 6:00.04 and China gained bronze at 6:01.21.

The United States and former UVA star Kristine O’Brien (2013) finished fourth at 6:02.78. Australia (6:03.92) finished fifth and Romania (6:04.06) was sixth.

Grainger and Roper, competing in their second Olympic Games, became the second and third UVA rowers, respectively, to earn gold medals. Former UVA All-American Lindsay Shoop won gold with the U.S women’s eight in 2008.

Roper and Grainger earned CRCA second-team All-America honors at UVA in 2011 and 2013, respectively.

Former Cavalier Hannah Osborne and teammate Brooke Donoghue of New Zealand won a silver medal in the women’s double sculls earlier this week.

 

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