PARIS – Men's rowing alumni Jacob Plihal made his Olympic debut in style on Saturday at the 2024 Paris Games, finishing second in his heat of the men's single sculls to advance to the quarterfinals at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.
 
Plihal went up against scullers from Brazil, Bermuda, Monaco and Individual Neutral Athlete in the fourth heat of the day. Needing a top three finish to avoid the repechage, Plihal sat in fourth place through the opening 500-meters of the race at 1:42.01, neck-and-neck with Lucas Verthein Ferreira (Brazil) and Quentin Antognelli (Monaco) for the third and final automatic qualification spot.
 
The Vashon Island, Wash. began to take control in the second 500-meters to overtake Antognelli for third, maintaining that advantage through 1500-meters with Verthein Ferreira in his sights for second. Plihal would do just that at the finish, edging Verthein Ferreira by 0.01 seconds for the second place slot at 6:54.95. 
 
Plihal will race in the Olympic quarterfinal on Tuesday at 4:10 a.m. (ET) on Peacock.
 
Plihal earned his spot in Paris by finishing second in the event at the 2024 World Rowing Final Olympic & Paralympic Qualification Regatta. He is the first Northeastern men's rower since 2012 to compete in the event, reinstating a legacy that has seen Husky rowers in the Olympics since the program began.