Molly Bruggeman headed to finals with women's eight rowing team at Paris Olympics

Chaminade Julienne graduate Molly Bruggeman helped the United States eight team to a first-place finish in the repechage round on Thursday at the Paris Olympics.

With that result, the U.S. team will race preliminary heat winners Romania and Great Britain, as well as Canada, in the final on Saturday at 4:50 a.m. Eastern Time. All rowing events are taking place at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium on the east side of Paris.

The United States finished the repechage in 6 minutes, 3.93 seconds. Canada was second in 6:04.81 and also advanced to the final. Australia, Italy and Denmark followed.

The U.S. team finished second in its preliminary heat Monday in 6:19. Romania won the heat in 6:12.31.

In addition to Bruggeman, the U.S. team includes: Charlotte Buck, of Nyack, N.Y.; Christina “Nina” Casatagna, of Princeton, N.J.; Olivia Coffey, of Elmira, N.Y.; Claire Collins, of Greenbrae, Calif.; Margaret Hedeman, of Concord, Mass.; Regina Salmons, of Methuen, Mass.; and Madeline Wanamaker, of Neenah, Wisc.

The U.S. women’s eight team won gold in the Olympics in 2008, 2012 and 2016 but failed to medal in 2021.

➡️ On to finals

The U.S. women’s eight wins their repechage with a time of 06:03.93 to advance to Saturday’s A Final. This marks highest U.S. participation in A Finals since Sydney 2000. #Paris2024 #RowToParis #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/h6No2Gh1x3
— USRowing (@usrowing) August 1, 2024