Eleanor Logan of Boothbay Harbor became the first female rower from the United States to win three Olympic gold medals when the U.S. women’s eight crew pulled away in the final 500 meters to win the Olympic gold at the Rio Olympics.
The U.S. trailed after 1,000 meters but pulled into the lead soon after and finished comfortably ahead in the 2,000-meter race.
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The U.S. finished in 6:01.49, ahead of second-place Great Britain by over two seconds.
When the race ended, Logan slumped forward and then leaned back to exult in the win.
The United States has now won 11 consecutive women’s eight international races, including the last three Olympics.
Logan, 28, had won her first two gold medals in Beijing (2008, with Camden’s Anna Goodale rowing one seat behind her in the boat) and London (2012).
She joins Ian Crocker, a swimmer from Portland and Cheverus High, as the only Maine natives to win three Olympic gold medals. Crocker won his medals as a member of the men’s 400 medley relay team in 2000, 2004 and 2008. Crocker, who no longer swims competitively, has five Olympic medals overall, including a silver in the 100 butterfly in 2004.
Logan, born in Portland, was only 20 and still a student at Stanford University when she won her first gold medal. At the time, she said, ”I feel very fortunate. I’m with the best rowers in the world, and I’ve really learned how to row. It’s just amazing.”
She echoed similar statements this year when she was named to the women’s eight, saying “I’m just happy to get another shot at the eights.” After the London Olympics, Logan tried competing in smaller boats and had some success, especially in the pairs.
But when the teams were announced for Rio, she and pairs partner Meghan Musnicki were both on the eights. They were the only two rowers back from the London gold-medal winners. Logan was the only rower back from Beijing.
She became involved in rowing as a freshman at the Brooks School in North Andover, Massachusetts. Her physique – she goes 6-foot-2, 175 pounds – was perfect for rowing and she quickly became one of the best in the nation.
She has said of rowing, “It grabbed my interest and my passion just took over. There’s something about the teammate aspect that connected with me. And you have to commit 100 percent to it, and not just for yourself, but for the boat and one another.”
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