Three Wisconsin women’s rowing alumni kicked off the Olympic competition at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium on Saturday.
Sophia Vitas, Grace Joyce and Lauren O’Conner represented the Badgers in the first day of competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Vitas, who rowed at UW from 2013-16, was the first Badger to compete on Saturday morning. Her women’s double sculls advanced to the semifinals after finishing third place in their heat.
She, alongside 2020 Summer Olympian Kristi Wagner, helped the Americans register 6:56.47 over 2000 meters. Only New Zealand (6:51.68) and Great Britain (6:52.31) finished higher.
The semifinals will take place at 3:10 a.m. CT on Sunday.
Olympics 🟢
Sophia Vitas to Tuesday Semifinals (3rd place in heat)
Lauren O’Connor and Grace Joyce to Monday repechage (4th place in heat)#OlympiansMadeHere pic.twitter.com/Tc6aOWXjuF
— Wisconsin Rowing (@BadgerRowing) July 27, 2024
Composing half of their group in the women’s quadruple sculls, Lauren O’Connor and Grace Joyce secured a fourth-place finish in their heat. They will face China, Switzerland, Romania and Australia in the repechage at 4:30 a.m. CT on Monday.
Maddie Wanamaker, the fourth Wisconsin rowing alumnus, will begin her leg of Olympic participation on Monday, July 29.