CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Former University of Virginia standout rower Heidi Long and the Great Britain Women’s Eight claimed the bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Saturday (Aug. 3) at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.
Long, who made her Olympic debut in Paris, and Great Britain finished the A Final with a time of 5:59.51 to hold off Australia (6:00.73) for the bronze medal. Romania won gold with a time of 5:54.39 and Canada claimed silver at 5:58.84.
Long is the eighth former Cavalier rower to earn an Olympic medal, joining Susanne Grainger (’13, Canada, W8+, Gold, 2020), Christine Roper (’11, Canada, W8+, Gold, 2020), Hannah Osborne (’14, New Zealand, W2x, Silver, 2020), Inge Janssen (’10, Netherlands, W4x, Silver, 2016), Melanie Kok (‘07) Canada LW2x Bronze, 2008), Lindsay Shoop (‘04) United States W8+ Gold, 2004) and Marlies Smulders (’01, Netherlands W8+ Silver, 2008 & Bronze, 2004)
Long (’19) was a member of UVA’s ACC champion Varsity Eight from 2016-19. The Buckinghamshire, England, native earned ACC Freshman of the Year in 2016 and is a two-time All-American and All-ACC performer. Long helped UVA to four ACC titles and three top-10 finishes at the NCAA championships.
After competing at the international U19 and U23 levels, Long joined the senior team in 2021. She helped Great Britain’s Women’s Four to titles at the 2022 European and World Championships. Long was a member of the Women’s Eight that won silver at this year’s World Rowing Cup.