Sophia Vitas was born on 22 December, 1992, Franklin, she is an American rower who placed second in the 2023 World Rowing Cup II and seventh in the Women’s Quadruple Sculls, was born and raised in Franklin, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. She also placed third in the women’s double sculls at the 2022 World Rowing Cup II. Vitas is qualified for the 2024 Olympics in Paris as well.
Sophia Vitas qualifies for the Paris Olympics 2024
Sophia Vitas and Maddie Wanamaker from Wisconsin have been chosen for the United States Olympic rowing team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Wanamaker will compete in her second straight Olympic Games, while Vitas will make her Olympic debut in the women’s double sculls event.
Vitas, now a five-time member of the U.S. Senior National Rowing Team, will be participating in the Olympics for the first time in the women’s double sculls competition.
In September last year, she won a bronze medal in the Women’s Double Sculls Final A at the 2023 World Rowing Championships in the W2x Class, with a timing of 06:50.45, helping the USA secure an Olympic spot in that boat category.
Sophia’s Family and Her Education Background
Sophia Vitas was born on 22 December, 1992, Franklin, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, but she currently lives in Austin, Texas, United States. Her parents are Mark Vitas and Kelly Vitas, and she has a sister named Mira Vitas. According to her latest update, Sophia Vitas stands at a height of 6 feet 2 inches (187 cm).
Vitas received a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutritional Sciences from the university. Before attending the University of Wisconsin, she transferred from UW-Milwaukee.
When and how did Sophia Vitas start her rowing Career?
She began rowing in 2013 at the University of Wisconsin, where she competed in the 2015 and 2016 NCAA Championships. During her earlier years, Vitas participated in four different sports and earned two varsity letters in basketball and soccer, as well as one letter each in cross country and track and field.
In 2014 – 2015, Vitas rowed in the fourth seat of the varsity eight boat that finished 13th at the NCAA Championships on May 31st. She also rowed the fourth seat of the varsity eight that placed 4th at the Big Ten Championships on May 17th and won the Devil’s Lake Challenge on May 2nd. Additionally, she rowed the fourth seat of the varsity eight that won the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge on April 25th and the fifth seat of the varsity eight that won the Milwaukee River Challenge on September 13th.
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She contributed to the novice eight team winning the Big Ten Championship title in 2014 and the second varsity eight team finishing fourth in the NCAA Championships petite final in 2016.
In 2015 – 2016, Vitas regularly raced with the second varsity eight boat, including a fourth-place finish in the NCAA Championships petite final on May 29th and a second-place finish at the Big Ten Championships on May 15th.
From the fourth seat, she helped the second varsity eight defeat Minnesota with the boat’s fastest time of the season, 6 minutes and 21.40 seconds, on May 1st. She also contributed to the second eight sweeping the Big Ten/Big 12 Invitational, with wins over Kansas, Minnesota, and Oklahoma on April 23rd.
In 2017, Vitas finished fourth place in the Women’s Eight Final A at the World Rowing Championships with a timing of 06:09.25 and secured seventh position in the pair event at the World Rowing Cup II.
Sophia Vitas Competition History after 2017 and Her Road to Paris
In 2018, Vitas secured fourth position in the Women’s Four Final A at the World Rowing Cup III in the W4- Class with a timing of 06:33.74.
In 2019, Vitas finished seventh place in the Women’s Quadruple Sculls Final B at the World Rowing Championships in the W4x Class with a timing of 06:40.11.
Vitas finished fifth in the Women’s Double Sculls Final A at the World Rowing Championships 2022 with a timing of 07:00.49. She also reached the semifinals of The Princess Grace Challenge Cup for quadruple sculls at the Henley Royal Regatta that year. Additionally, Vitas secured third place in the Women’s Double Sculls Final A at the World Rowing Cup II with a timing of 06:59.49.
In 2023, Vitas won third position in the Women’s Double Sculls Final A at the World Rowing Championships in the W2x Class with a timing of 06:50.45. She also finished second in the Women’s Double Sculls Final A in the W2x Class with a timing of 06:41.50 at the World Rowing Cup II that year. Furthermore, Vitas placed seventh in the Women’s Quadruple Sculls Final B at the 2023 World Rowing Cup II with a timing of 06:20.35.
Vitas will become the 19th female rower from the University of Wisconsin to make the Olympic team, including boycotts and alternates, bringing the university’s total for both men’s and women’s rowing to 32 Olympians.
