UniRoos add to medal tally for World University Championships

Australia has added to its already successful year of World University Championship results with a gold in sailing and two silvers in rowing over the past month.

Defending its title for the fourth World University Sailing Championships running, skipper Thomas Grimes (UNSW Sydney) and his crew claimed gold in the open category in Cherbourg, France.

After five days of intense competition, the Australians took out the Championship just two points ahead of the host team, while The University of Western Australia’s skipper Ethan Prieto-Low and crew finished a respectable sixth.

Meanwhile in Shanghai, the UniRoos made a formidable impact at the World University Rowing Championships with six crews out of seven making the finals, coming home with two silver medals.

Making their way to the final via the repechage, the lightweight double scull team of Jilly Roberts (The Australian National University) and Rosie Beasley (Australian Catholic University) eventually took out the silver medal. Their success was equalled by Cara Grzeskowiak (The Australian National University) who claimed second in the women’s single scull event.

The medal winning performances takes Australia’s World University Championship tally to 18 medals, comprising six gold, eight silver and four bronze.

Australia’s triathlon representatives also delivered exceptional performances at the World University Triathlon Championship in Kalmar, Sweden with two top 10 finishes. Sophie Linn (Michigan State University) crossed the line in a credible sixth place in the women’s individual event and then joined forces with Fern Davies (Flinders University), Jonathan Sammut (The University of Western Australia) and Jack van Stekelenburg (Bond University) to claim eighth in the mixed team event.