Lightweight Women's Double Sculls (LW2x) - Final

The semifinal yesterday indicated that today’s final would be tight. About four seconds separated the six qualifying boats with Poland having a very slight edge. Poland’s Joanna Dorociak and Weronika Deresz got away the fastest, but it was Katherine Copeland and Charlotte Taylor that had the leading edge with 500m rowed. Copeland won gold at the London Olympic Games in this boat class and made the decision to do it all again for Rio. This is Copeland’s first season teamed up with Taylor and they must have decided to absolutely dominate this race as by the middle mark Copeland and Taylor had more than a boat length lead. What could the Poles do? Could Great Britain hold this pace to the end?

In the run to the line the British remained classy and remained in front. Poland was now neck and neck with Germany’s Fini Sturm and Marie-Louise Draeger. Both boats were giving it their all. It was going to be a photo finish. At the line Germany had won the silver by just 0.09 of a second. What a race!

Results: GBR, GER, POL, DEN, NED, IRL

Charlotte Taylor (GBR) – Gold

It’s my first international gold ever. We had a really fast start and made the best of the wind to increase our lead.

Marie-Louise Draeger (GER) – Silver

We didn’t know before getting out of the boat which medal we got. It was so close. To get a silver in these conditions is great.

Weronika Deresz (POL) – Bronze

It’s a very bitter bronze for us. We lost by only 9/10s of a second, it’s horrible.

B-final

After an early lead by Russia, Switzerland took over in front and never looked back. Coming into the final sprint , Frederique Rol and Patricia Merz of Switzerland still had the lead with Romania chasing hard. In a mad dash to the line the Swiss had done it, finishing seventh overall at this regatta.

Results: SUI, ROU, GRE, RUS, CZE, UKR