Women’s Double Sculls (W2x) – Final

Behind Australia it was extremely close between Poland and the reigning World Champions, Donata Vistartaite and Milda Valciukaite of Lithuania. This order stayed the same through the middle of the race until last year’s silver medallists, New Zealand began to move. Fiona Bourke and Zoe Stevenson of New Zealand had been sitting at the back of the field after a rather slow start but they were showing that their second 1000 was something to be aware of. As Australia faded, New Zealand powered into the lead with Poland also conducting a spectacular finish. Redemption for coming second on the final stroke in 2013, Bourke and Stevenson had rowed a perfectly timed race.

Results: NZL, POL, AUS, LTU, CHN, USA

Gold – BOURKE, Fiona (NZL)
Lane 6 was our lucky lane, being over there we didn’t know what was going on.

Silver – FULARCZYK, Magdalena (POL)
It was hard, the race was fast and we lost control in the first 500m but then it came perfect and we got second.

Bronze – ALDERSEY, Olympia (AUS)
It’s a bit windier than I thought so we got a bit distracted.

B-final

The Dutch crew of Nicole Beukers and Inge Janssen had the fastest time of these crews coming through the semifinals and for the home crowds it was unfortunate that they missed out on the A-final. Beukers and Janssen made the best of it and managed to build up a nice lead by the half way point. Beukers has been racing internationally since 2007 while the younger Janssen is in her third year on the Dutch rowing team. A big cheer went out to Beukers and Janssen as they crossed the finish line to be seventh overall at this regatta.

Results: NED, GER, RUS, UKR, IRL, DEN