Eton, England (August 2, 2012) – Former Rutgers rower and current U.S. women’s eight head coach Tom Terhaar led the squad to its second-straight Olympic gold medal Thursday.

The USA women’s eight rowing team, unbeaten in international competition since 2006, won by a boat-length margin over Canada and the Netherlands in the gold medal race at Dorney Lake.

The American rowers — Caryn Davies, Ellie Logan, Meghan Musnicki, Taylor Ritzel, Esther Lofgfren, Susan Francia and Erin Francia and Mary Whipple (coxswain) — led from start to finish and crossed the 2,000-meter course finish line in 6:10.59, for a decisive win over Canada (6:12.06) and the Netherlands (6:13.12). Romania (6:17.64), Great Britain (6:18.77) and Australia (6:18.86) rounded out the race.  

USA joins Romania and the former East Germany as the only three-time winners of the women’s Olympic eights.