TOKYO, Japan – Yale Heavyweight Crew had three of its oarsmen earn Olympic medals in the final of the men's eight at the Sea Forest Waterway at the Tokyo Games.

Dan Williamson, who will be back at Yale this fall as a junior, wore a gold medal around his neck after helping New Zealand finish first. He is the first from the storied collegiate rowing program to earn gold at the Olympics since the 1956 Yale Heavyweight varsity boat represented the United States and won at Melbourne.

Before Williamson received his award, he watched fellow Bulldogs Ollie Wynne-Griffith '17 and Charlie Elwes '19 hold their bronze medals for helping Great Britain make a great run in the final.

"I couldn't be prouder of ALL of our Yale oarsmen who competed at the Olympic games," said Steve Gladstone, Yale's Craig W. Johnson '68 Head Coach of Heavyweight Crew. "Dan Williamson winning the gold in the eight was extraordinary, while Ollie Wynne-Griffith and Charlie Elwes winning the bronze in that same event was also a significant achievement."
What makes this story even bigger is that both New Zealand and Great Britain came out of the repechage to earn medals.

The NZ eight led the entire final on the way to a time of 5:24.64. Germany captured silver with a 5:25.60, while Team GB came in at 5:25.73.

There was a fourth Bulldog competing in the early Friday morning final. Simon Keenan '15 was in the Australian boat that took sixth with a 5:26.33.

Eight Yalies representing five countries in three different events competed in the Olympic rowing competition. Andrin Gulich '22 and Paul Jacquot '18 reached the B Final for Switzerland in the four, and so did Sholto Carnegie '18 for Team GB. Returning Yale team captain Jack Lopas '22 made the B Final in double sculls for Team NZ.