Kim Brennan has won Australia's sixth gold medal at the Rio Olympics, taking the title in the women's single sculls in rowing at Lagoa on day eight.

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Brennan - who collected bronze in the same event in London as well as silver in the women's double sculls - led nearly from start to finish and produced a convincing victory in a time of 7 minutes and 21.54 seconds.

It is the first time Australia has won gold in the women's single sculls and the victory adds to the three wins in the men's event achieved by Bobby Pearce (1928, 1932) and Merv Wood (1948).

Brennan's husband Scott also won gold for Australia with David Crawshay in the men's double sculls at the Beijing Olympics.

American sculler Genevra Stone finished second to Brennan in Rio in 7:22.92 and China's Duan Jingli took the bronze medal in 7:24.13.

Brennan, a two-time world champion, said it was a proud feeling to win Australia's first gold in the women's single sculls in light of the rich history it enjoyed in the sport.

"I think it's quite special the tradition we do have in rowing," she said. "It's nice to broaden that to a different boat class."

Brennan hit the front early in the first leg, and established a 2.69 second lead over Jingli after 500 metres.

She increased the lead to 3.72 seconds at the halfway mark as Stone began to come through to challenge for second.

Brennan still led by three seconds at the final mark, and she held her form perfectly to take the title.

The win provides Australia with its only gold medal at the rowing regatta on the final day of competition.

Australia also won silver in the men's quad sculls and fours.

Brennan to consider rowing future

Brennan, 31, is unsure about her immediate future in rowing.

She is a lawyer by profession and an administrative role in the newly established women's AFL competition has been mooted.

Brennan wanted Australia to remain strong in the single sculls should she decide to retire.

"I hope that if I do step away I think there are a lot of young girls coming through who can hopefully fill my shoes," she said.

Brennan was a late starter to rowing, having forged a successful junior track and field career.

She won silver in the 400 metres hurdles at the 2001 world youth championships in Debrecen but was forced to quit track and field because of injury a few years later.

Brennan, whose father Max Crow played almost 200 senior matches in the then-VFL during the 1970s and 80s, switched to rowing and in 2006 was a member of the Australian crew who claimed bronze in the women's eight at the world championships in Eton.

She made her Olympic debut in Beijing when she was 22, four years before her twin medal success in London, and had been the form single sculler in the build-up to the Rio Olympics courtesy of winning the 2013 (Chungju) and 2015 (Aiguebelette) world championships.