Dayton native Molly Bruggeman earns spot on US Olympic Rowing Team

Molly Bruggeman, a 2014 University of Notre Dame graduate, was one of 21 athletes named to the United States Rowing Team to represent the U.S. at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Bruggeman was among 13 women who will make up the women’s eight and four in Paris.

“It’s truly an honor and the result of many years of hard work and support to be named to the 2024 Olympic team,” Bruggeman said.  

“I was lucky enough to have Martin (Stone) and his staff checking in along the way and as the springboard for my entire senior national team career. I carry with me a lot of great memories and lessons from my time at Notre Dame and am so happy to be representing the Irish and my country on the international stage again.”

Bruggeman’s spot on the team marks the fourth-consecutive Olympiad that a Notre Dame rower will be involved with the national team. Amanda Polk (‘08) was an alternate for the U.S. team in 2012, then won a gold medal with the women’s eight in Rio during the 2016 games. Bruggeman was an alternate for the 2020 games in Tokyo and has now earned a spot on one of the two boats that will compete for a medal in Paris.

“We are so happy for Molly that she will be a part of this year’s Olympic team,” Irish head coach Martin Stone said. “Her dedication over the past eight years that earned this opportunity is a testament to her character and work ethic. All of us here at Notre Dame are so proud that she will represent the United States and our program at the highest level of rowing competition.”

A three-time All-American at Notre Dame from 2011-14, Bruggeman and Polk are the only three-time All-Americans in program history. Bruggeman led the Irish to a BIG EAST Championship in 2013 and a second-place conference finish in the team’s inaugural season in the ACC (2014). She also helped the Irish advance to the NCAA Championship regatta in 2012, 2013 and 2014, finishing as high as ninth in ’14.

Bruggeman has been a part of nine U.S. national teams and has competed internationally in sculls, fours, pairs and eights along the way. She won gold in the four at the 2023 World Rowing Cup II and also claimed gold in the four at the 2017 World Rowing Championships. She also won the pair in the 2015 Pan American Games.

From Dayton, Ohio, Bruggeman graduated in 2015 from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in anthropology and pre-health. She has also served as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Rowing Team when she is not training for the national team in Princeton, N.J.

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