Cal rowing to make a splash in Tokyo Cal Athletics/Courtesy Bears have long been a part of the Olympic Games. Cal crew teams have struck gold for the United States three times at the games, more than any other university. This July, eight rowers will join the ranks of Cal Olympians when they hit the waters in Tokyo. Five of those eight alumni hail from the women’s rowing program. Alumnus Kara Kohler became the first U.S. rower to qualify for the Olympics in the single sculls event. Kohler punched her ticket in February after winning the event at the U.S. Olympic Rowing Trials. A 2011 All-American and Olympic bronze medalist, Kohler had no experience rowing until her college career at Cal.