London 2012: Julie Nichols, Women's Rowing, USA

Our look at some of the Golden Bears headed to London to compete for their country continues today with Julie Nichols, a rower on the US women's team. Julie graduated from Cal with a B.S. Chemical Engineering in 2000 and was a standout rower in her time there. You can learn more about her time at Cal and her national team career after the jump!

Julie hails from Livermore, CA and came to Cal in 1996 where she started her rowing career. She rowed the seven in the JV in '97 and then rowed two in the '98 Cal JV eight that finished third at Pac-10s. She also stroked the 1999 Cal varsity eight that won the bronze medal at NCAAs. She also trained with the Golden Bear Rowing Club and stroked the eight that won gold in the Senior B event at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta. She kept rowing after graduation and compiled an impressive national record which resulted in her ascension to the National Team in 2003.

U.S. Lightweight Single Sculler Julie Nichols (via usrowingorg)

From her USA Rowing Bio:

National Results: Won the lightweight double sculls at the 2012 National Selection Regatta #2...Won the lightweight double sculls at the 2011 National Selection Regatta #2...Won the lightweight single sculls at the 2011 National Selection Regatta #1...Won the lightweight single sculls at the 2010 World Championships Trials...Finished 11th in the single sculls at the 2010 National Selection Regatta #1...Won the lightweight single sculls at the 2008 World Championships Trials...Finished third in the single sculls at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Rowing...Finished second in the lightweight double sculls at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Rowing...Finished second in the single sculls at the 2008 National Selection Regatta #1...Finished second in the lightweight single sculls at the 2007 USRowing National Championships...Finished second in the single sculls at the 2007 Pan American Games Trials...Won the lightweight double sculls at the second 2006 USRowing National Selection Regatta...Won the lightweight single sculls at the first 2006 USRowing National Selection Regatta...Won the lightweight double sculls at the second 2005 USRowing National Selection Regatta...Won the lightweight single sculls at the first 2005 USRowing National Selection Regatta...Won the lightweight quadruple sculls at the 2004 World Championships Trials...Finished second in the lightweight double sculls at the 2004 Olympic Trials...Won the lightweight single sculls at the 2003 USRowing National Championships, earning a berth on the world championships team...Won the 2001 USRowing National Championships in the senior lightweight single sculls...Finished third in the varsity eight at the 1999 NCAA Championships.

International Results: Finished fourth in the lightweight double sculls at the 2012 Samsung World Rowing Cup II...Finished sixth in the lightweight double sculls at the 2012 Samsung World Rowing Cup I...Finished fourth in the lightweight double sculls at the 2011 World Rowing Championships...Won the 2011 Overall Rowing World Cup in the lightweight double sculls…Won bronze in the lightweight double sculls at the 2011 Rowing World Cup stop in Lucerne...Won gold in the lightweight double sculls at the 2011 Rowing World Cup stop in Hamburg...Won bronze in the lightweight double sculls at the 2011 Rowing World Cup stop in Munich... Finished sixth in the lightweight single sculls at the 2010 World Rowing Championships...Served as an alternate on the 2008 Olympic Team...Finished fourth in the lightweight single sculls at the 2008 World Rowing Senior and Junior World Championships...Won silver in the quadruple sculls at the 2007 Pan American Games...Finished ninth in the lightweight double sculls at the 2006 World Rowing Championships...Won bronze in the lightweight double sculls at the 2006 Rowing World Cup stop in Lucerne...Finished 16^th in the lightweight double sculls at the 2006 Rowing World Cup stop in Munich...Won silver in the lightweight double sculls at the 2005 World Rowing Championships...Won bronze in the lightweight quadruple sculls at the 2004 World Rowing Championships...Finished 13^th in the lightweight single sculls at the 2003 World Rowing Championships.

American women power passed Germanys for win - from Universal Sports (via sportsnetwork)

Julie will definitely be looking to complement her already impressive collection of rowing hardware with an Olympic medal. GO BEARS and GO USA!