Lightweight Men's Double Sculls (LM2x) - Final

Belgium got off to a very good start with the strategy that must have been to shake the nerves of their opposition crews. But their lead did not last long as the Irish O’Donovan brothers got out in front. The O’Donovan’s have been having a great regatta and yesterday they won their semifinal. Then the 2014 World Champions, John Smith and James Thompson of South Africa pushed into the lead. Smith and Thompson were fourth last year and they won their semifinal yesterday.

Coming into the final sprint South Africa still had a slight lead with Ireland and the Netherlands both within striking distance of the leading crew. Ireland upped their stroke rate. So did South Africa. These two crews crossed the line almost together. Thompson and Smith won. Gary and Paul O’Donovan took silver and in a tight finish, Belgium’s Tim Brys and Niels van Zandweghe just beat the Netherlands by 0.17 of a second.

Results: RSA, IRL, BEL, NED, ESP, DEN

B-final

It was the young Turkey crew that led the way. But margins were incredibly tight and it looked like this one would be a race to the end. By the middle of the race only two seconds separated the top five boats with Turkey’s Enes Kusku and Huseyin Kandemir still with a slight leading margin. Then the British managed to sneak ahead with Turkey, Switzerland and Poland holding the pace. At the line Poland had got there first.

Results: POL, GBR, SUI, TUR, POR, CHI 

James Thompson – RSA – gold
“It is always good to be in leading position at the beginning of the season even though not all the big crews are here. We’re very pleased with the way we started this season.”

Gary O’Donovan – IRL – silver
For us South Africa functioned as a benchmark because they are the most established team here. We wanted to stay with them at the start and then clear the field together around the 1000m marker. Around the final stretch we just gave it our all to outsprint them. We are very pleased with this silver medal.”

Niels Van Zandweghe – BEL – bronze
“We are a new crew, so we didn’t expect this speed at all. Our preparation was terrible because we have both been ill this week. This was exactly the race that we needed. This race allows us to go the Final Olympic Qualification regatta in Lucerne.”