Para men's single sculls (ASM1x) - Final

Igor Bondar of Ukraine went powering out at the start. Bondar finished second in 2013 and did not race last year. The World Champion, Erick Horrie of Australia then started to work his way through to the front of the field. Horrie got into a 31 stroke rate pace looking strong and in control. This put Bondar into second with Russia’s Alexey Chuvashev very much on the pace. This was going to be a sprint to the finish.

Could Bondar hold the pace? Coming into the line Horrie had managed to break away from the crowd with Tom Aggar of Great Britain now charging down the outside. Aggar took gold at the 2008 Paralympic Games but in the last couple of years has not seen so many medals. In a flyer to the line Aggar overtook Bondar. Bondar, however, was not giving in. At the line Aggar managed to cross just a fraction ahead of Bondar. But hats off to Horrie, What  a well executed race.

Results: AUS, GBR, UKR, RUS, USA, NED

Erik Horrie – AUS – gold
“My oponents were even more eager than usual. I just stuck to my race plan. It is amazing to be World Champion for the 3^rd time in a row.”

Tom Aggar – GBR – silver
“It was hard to see where I was from lane one. Silver is a very good result and I am pleased. I am working very hard for this. “

Igor Bondar – UKR – bronze  
“I am happy but a little bit disappointed as I didn’t give my best during the race. Next year I hope to change the colour of the medal.”

B-final

Brazil’s Rene Pereira had a great race in the semifinal and was unlucky to miss out on the A-final. Today Pereira made the best of it by getting out quickly and holding off first Korea and then a late burst by Fabrizio Caselli of Italy. Brazil and Italy had thus qualified for the 2016 Paralympic Games by finishing seventh and eighth overall at this regatta. 

Results: BRA, ITA, KOR, GER, ARG, POL