RIO DE JANEIRO — A former Cranberry Township resident and All-American rower at Notre Dame helped the U.S. women's eight rowing team win an Olympic gold medal on Saturday in Brazil.

Amanda Polk, 30, was a four-time All-American, team captain and biochemistry major at Notre Dame.

In her last high-profile international performance before the Olympics — last year's World Championships in France — Polk helped the U.S. national team win gold. The victory preserved a winning streak that stretches back to 2005 and includes eight world championships, and after Saturday's come-from-behind victory, three Olympic gold medals in a row.

In 2012 Polk, who graduated from Oakland Catholic High School in 2004, was an alternate for that year's Olympics.

She is the daughter of Ken Polk of Cranberry.

On Saturday, the U.S. women's eight was in third place halfway through the 2,000-meter Olympic final when coxswain Katelin Snyder shouted something that resonated with the rowers.

“This,” Snyder said, loud enough for the Romanians to hear two lanes over, “is the U.S. women's team!”

It wasn't planned. It just came out.

But her resolute words spoke to her teammates' pride and determination. She was reminding them of the dynasty the United States has built in women's eight. She was telling them it wasn't going to end at these Olympic Games.

The Americans crossed the finish line in 6 minutes, 1.49 seconds to win their third consecutive Olympic gold medal and extend to 11 their victory streak in world championship and Olympic finals.