July 28, 2013 - Single sculler Carling Zeeman of Laurentian University pulls off a dramatic finish to earn a silver medal for Canada on Sunday at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Linz-Ottensheim, Austria.
Last year, Zeeman earned a bronze medal finish marking the first significant women’s sculling victory at a World Championships or Olympic event since 1996.
The young rower pulled off an amazing performance in the final 750 metres of the 2000-metre race, powering past competitors from Latvia and the Ukraine in 07:33:70. Germany’s Lisa Schmidla won the event in 07:30.84, while bronze medalist Elza Gulbe of Latvia finished in 07:33:79.
“What an incredible performance,” said Laurentian University Rowing coach and SPED Coordinator Dr. Amanda Schweinbenz. “This was Carling’s second experience at the World’s and all of us who have the pleasure of working with her are impressed constantly by her determination.”
“It was a great race; my best time,” said Zeeman. “The conditions were really hot, so it called for a few adjustments in race prep and the race plan. It paid off and I’m very happy with it,” concluded Zeeman who is a product of Canada’s rowing development program, and who was named the Laurentian University President’s Athlete of Year in 2012 and again in 2013.
Zeeman is a decorated rower having captured gold in the women’s U23 single event at the RowOntario Championships, gold in the women’s U23 single and Championship single at the Royal Canadian Henley, gold in the women’s single at the OUA Championships, gold in the women’s single at the Canadian University Rowing Championships, gold in the women’s U23 single at the National Rowing Championships, and gold in the senior women’s single at the National Rowing Championships. She has also been named Rowing Canada Aviron’s Female Sculler of the Year, Canadian University Rowing Association Female Athlete of the Year and an Ontario Universities Ahtletics (OUA) All Star.
About Laurentian University
Laurentian University is one of the fastest growing universities in Canada in the past decade, now serving close to 10,000 students. With its main campus in Sudbury, it now offers a growing number of programs in Barrie to the 1,200 students located on that campus. Laurentian has the highest post-graduation employment rates in Ontario after 6 months at 92% and 95% after two years. The University receives high recognition for its enviable class sizes, having one of the lowest average class sizes in Canada.