Moorestown Native Lauren Schmetterling Wins Olympic Gold

A Moorestown native is now part of Olympic history.

Lauren Schmetterling was part of the U.S. women's eight team that won a third consecutive Gold Medal Saturday morning during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The team finished the race in 6:01.49. Great Britain took the Silver in 6:03.98 and Romania won the Bronze in 6:04.10.

The U.S. and Romania are now the only two countries who have won three consecutive Olympic Gold Medals in the Women's Eight.

Schmetterling joined coxswain Katelin Snyder, 2008 and 2012 Olympian Eleanor Logan, Amanda Elmore, Tessa Gobbo, 2012 Olympian Meghan Musnicki, Emily Regan, Amanda Polk and Kerry Simmonds in the win.

The team has been nearly unstoppable since winning gold in 2012. Schmetterling, 28, has been part of a championship-winning boat in each of the last three World Rowing Championships.

Team USA qualified for this year's finals by winning its heat on Monday in a time of 6:06.34. Its time was the best of all countries in the early stages, regardless of heat.