Boston University

A three-time World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Florian Mennigen becomes the first men's rower to be inducted in 16 years and just the second to have competed after the 1950s alongside U.S. Olympian Jonathan Brown ('91). The Mustin, Germany, native joined the Terriers after earning a silver medal in the quadruple scull at the German National Championships and a bronze medal in the same event representing Germany at the Nations Cup.

Recipient of the E. Ray Speare Award as the top BU male scholar-athlete his senior year, Mennigen helped guide the Terriers' varsity eight boat to three Lusins Cup victories against Columbia and a pair of Conlan Cup wins against Syracuse. In 2005, BU won the Jablonic Cup against Wisconsin for the second time in program history and first since 1995.

That same year, the Terriers made a huge splash at the Eastern Sprints with their best-ever performance in 60 years of the event. Despite being seeded ninth, the V8 reached the Grand Final and placed fourth to help BU take fourth overall.

With his collegiate success, Mennigen went on to be named team captain of the German eight boat at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and later became the third in program history to claim a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.