Brock University rower Connor Dodds captured a medal for Canada at the 2023 World Rowing Under-23 Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria on Saturday, July 22.
 
A second-year Computing and Business student from Regina, Sask., Dodds helped Rowing Canada's lightweight men's quad earn a spot on the podium with a bronze medal in the A Final race.

"Winning the medal was a big achievement for our crew," Dodds said. "Our crew was self-funded and trained separately from the rest of Team Canada, so we were determined to prove ourselves and make a statement that we belong at the international level."

Dodds and crewmates Lucas Celia of Queen's, Emerson Crick of University of British Columbia and Giancarlo DiPompeo of University of Victoria placed third with a time of six minutes, one second and 43 milliseconds to stave off the United States.

Italy (5:54.50) and Germany (5:56.52) placed first and second, respectively.

"Our race was executed very well. We had a strong start which allowed us to challenge the top boats," added Dodds. "We held a great rhythm and a great pace through the middle, and we kept our finish strong and clean. We all raced as hard as we could and didn't leave any regrets there."
 
The crew is coached by Brock's interim head coach Mary Rao.

Fellow Badger Stephen Harris, a third-year Economics student from Guelph, placed third (7:06.63) in the B Final of the lightweight men's single, and ninth overall, on Sunday, July 23.
 
Earlier on Saturday, the Canadian men's double of Brock's Michael Ciepiela, a third-year Business student from Brampton, and Andrew Hubbard of Queen's finished fourth (6:30.65) in the C Final, which was 16^th overall.

Full results can be found on the event's official website.