Competing in an international final for the very first time, Laurentian University single sculler Carling Zeeman did not seem the least bit overwhelmed.

Coming from behind over the final 500 metres, Zeeman leapt from 6th place to 3rd, garnering a bronze medal at the World Under-23 Rowing Championships in Traika, Lithuania.

The race was captured by Julia Lier (Germany) in 8:17.11, with Rikke Quist (Denmark) claiming silver in 8:18.96. In pushing her way to a podium finished, Zeeman passed competitors from Norway, Latvia and Great Britain over the final two minutes of the race, crossing the finish line in 8:20.76.

"Even the announcers were impressed by the athlete with no international race experience who came out of nowhere," noted Laurentian rowing coach Amanda Schweinbenz in email correspondance following the very close race.

The result represented something of a breakthrough for Canada, marking the first significant women's sculling medal at a World Championships or Olympic event since 1996.

"It was just an excellent performance," said Schweinbenz. A native of Cambridge, Zeeman was recently honoured as the L.U. Female Athlete of the Year, having captured the RCA Female Sculler of the Year honours some six months earlier.