​Molly Bruggeman has given more than 20 years to rowing. The sport has given right back.“There are so many doors that are open to me because of rowing,” Bruggeman said during an interview in Corning’s Gaffer District.Bruggeman, 34, has gone from competing at the University of Notre Dame on a full scholarship to being part of multiple world titles at the under-23 and senior levels. Along with triumphs have come friendships, including one with Watkins Glen Olympic rower Olivia Coffey that led to Bruggeman being introduced to her now fiancé and becoming part of the Corning community.Bruggeman, a gold medalist in the women’s four at the 2018 World Rowing Championships, is weeks removed from a watershed moment. She joined Azja Czajkowski, Teal Cohen, and Kate Knifton in winning the gold medal in the four at the 2026 World Championships on Aug. 29 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.They finished in 6 minutes, 9.87 seconds to crush the world record of 6:14.36 set in 2014 by New Zealand on the same Bosbaan rowing course. Bruggeman and her crewmates became the first U.S. women’s four to finish under 6:10.Bruggeman capped the week by helping the U.S. to a bronze medal in the mixed eight, a combined effort of the gold medalist women’s and men’s fours.“It was a pretty incredible experience to compete in Amsterdam and get the win and also achieving a world record in the process,” said Bruggeman, who credited a “really hard year” of training to the success. “Lots of feelings there, pride being a big one.”Her crewmates were part of a gold medal in the four at the 2025 World Championships. Bruggeman, who took time off last year because of elbow surgery, said they had an idea the record was within reach, but that wasn’t the focus.“I think being able to put it all together on the final day was really special because we didn’t always have the right conditions for that kind of race, being the wind that it was and the wind pattern it was,” she said. “Just being able to go out and execute at the speed we knew we were capable of going.”It’s been a long time since I was a world champion, so it feels pretty good to have that again.”More: Watkins Glen Olympic medalist, others restoring historic boat at Hammondsport museumFriendships have led to life-changing momentsBruggeman grew up in Dayton, Ohio, and graduated from Chaminade Julienne, a Catholic school. She competed in volleyball, basketball, soccer, and gymnastics before a family friend started the Dayton Boat Club when Bruggeman was about 13. With her athleticism and height (Bruggeman is 5-foot-11), the friend told Bruggeman she would be a good fit.“It was a domino effect from there what doors opened for me and when,” she said. “I have to thank him for a lot of that.”Highlights for Bruggeman in college included a ninth-place national finish. She said she had a blast at Notre Dame, where family ties run deep.Bruggeman was a spare for the U.S. at the Tokyo Olympics that ended up being held in 202