Lightweight Men’s Pair (LM2-) – Final

This season has been all about Mark O’Donovan and Shane O’Driscoll of Ireland. They have not lost a race this season with three World Cup wins and a European Championships win. They also proved to be the best in the heats earlier this week. O’Donovan and O’Driscoll took off with a high 50s rating but the first to show was Great Britain’s Joel Cassells and Sam Scrimgeour. After 400m O’Donovan and O’Driscoll were still at 46 strokes per minute and they were closing on the British lead. Italy sat in third.

Still at 46, Ireland took the lead with Giuseppe Di Mare and Alfonso Scalzone of Italy moving ahead of Great Britain and into second. Ireland, now at 43, had broken away from the pack. Could the Irish maintain this blistering pace? Brazil’s Xavier Vela Maggi and Willian Giaretton now were moving and had got into second. Ireland remained at 43 with Brazil at 42. Italy was at 45 and had overtaken Brazil. What a finish! Ireland are the World Champions, Italy take silver and Brazil are the bronze medallists.

Results: IRL, ITA, BRA, GBR, RUS, USA

Mark O’Donovan (b), Ireland, gold
“We started and were wrecked. It’s been a really long journey to get here so we are absolutely delighted to be able to take the win. Thanks to everyone that supported us. I think the season has really pushed us to do well today.”

Giuseppe Di Mare (b), Italy, silver
“Everything here in Florida has been great so far. Now we’ll go off to Siesta Key and celebrate our medal.”

Xavier Vela Maggi (b), Brazil, bronze
“We’ve been put together in the pair after the Rio Games. However, we’ve only been training for one month before these world championships because I live in Spain and my partner in Brazil. But this is a very good step in our four-year journey toward Tokyo.”

B-final

Mexico’s Edmundo Reynoso and Angy Canul held the edge over Hungary throughout the race. But it was only an edge as Hungary stuck to the pace of the Mexicans. Hungary had beaten Mexico in the repechage earlier in the week and this may have fired up Reynoso and Canul. The race remained close to the end and the result was decided in the final sprint by a photo finish. Hungary had won by just 0.02 of a second.

Results: HUN, MEX