Canada wins two bronze medals at the final World Cup event of 2019 in Rotterdam

Andrea Proske (Langley, BC) and Gabrielle Smith (Unionville, ON) captured Canada’s first medal of the day taking the bronze in challenging head wind conditions (8:03.77) with Romania taking the gold (7:58.39) and Australia winning the silver medal (7:59.11). This marks the second World Cup medal for this Canadian crew, earning a silver medal at the 2018 World Cup 3 in Lucerne.

“It definitely bumpy out there,” said Proske. “We train on some pretty wavy water so this isn’t so strange here. I think the change in weather conditions are part of why I love the sport so much because it can be anyone’s game, it’s not only mental out there but also very technical.”

Watch the Women’s Double A Final Race

The Women’s Eight crew secured Canada’s second bronze medal of the day in equally challenging conditions, overtaking Russia for 3rd place position at the 1000m mark. Canada held onto the pace to cross the line with the bronze (6:46.77) behind gold medallists from New Zealand (6:32.40) and Australia in silver (6:36.04). The Canadian Women’s Eight won the silver medal at the 2018 World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

“It was tough out there with the wind but we committed from our start,” said coxswain Kristen Kit. “I am really proud of these women! They stuck with it and in the 2nd and 3rd 500 meters. They trusted in the process and they trusted in each other!”

Watch the Women’s Eight A Final Race

Bottom left: coxswain Kristen Kit, Christine Roper, Avalon Wasteneys, Madison Mailey
Top left: Jennifer Martins, Rebecca Zimmerman, Susanne Grainger, Stephanie Grauer, Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski.

CAN1 Women’s Four crew, Sydney Payne (Toronto, ON) Lisa Roman (London, ON), Nicole Hare (Calgary, AB) and Hillary Janssens (Cloverdale, BC) battled in their A Final, finishing fourth overall behind Australia, Denmark and Romania. This is the first World Cup event for this Canadian women’s crew combination.

“Fourth place is always tough to swallow but we are proud of the way we executed our race today,” said Nicole Hare. “Our heads are high and we are excited to see what we can do leading into World Championships in August.”

Watch the Women’s Four A Final Race

Jill Moffatt (Bethany, ON) Jennifer Casson (Kingston, ON) won the B Final event in the Lightweight Women’s Double placing 7th overall as a new crew combination this year.

The women’s crews will now return home to join the Men’s and Para program at the National Training Centre in Victoria, BC in preparation for the 2019 World Championships to be held August 25^th– September 1^st in Linz, Austria. The 2019 World Championships will be the first opportunity for nations to qualify crews for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Team Canada Results

Women’s Double Sculls – Andrea Proske & Gabrielle Smith
Bronze

Women’s Coxed Eight (Roster below)
Bronze

Women’s Lightweight Single Sculls – Ellen Gleadow
4th place

Women’s Four – CAN1
4th place

Women’s Four – CAN2
12th place

Lightweight Women’s Double – Jennifer Casson & Jill Moffatt
7th place

Full Results

Photo credits: Merijn Soeters/Rowing Canada Aviron

Schedule and Results available at worldrowing.com.

Canadian Crews – World Cup 3