Women's Double Sculls (W2x) - Final

This final was chock-full of talent. One of the most medalled women in the world, Ekaterina Karsten sat in the Belarus boat with Yuliya Bichyk. The most medalled British woman rower, Katherine Grainger sat in the British boat with Victoria Thornley. The 2013 World Champions, Lithuania (Milda Valciukaite and Donata Vistartiate) were there and last year’s silver medallists, Poland (Magdalena Fularczyk and Natalia Madaj) were also on the startline. World Record holder on the ergometer, Olena Buryak was in the Ukrainian boat. In the German boat Julia Lier is a World Champion from the quad. 

At the start Poland had the lead and they held on to it through to the middle of the race with Germany’s Lier and Mareike Adams sitting closely behind in second. Great Britain and Lithuania were neck and neck for third. Coming into the final sprint, Grainger and Thornley had moved into second and looked to be closing on Poland. But it did not last for long as they were under-rating Poland and started to fall back. The Lithuanians decided it was their turn to moved and upped their rating to overtake Grainger and Thornley. Fularczyk and Madaj held on to first and became the first Polish crew to win gold at this regatta.

Results: POL, LTU, GBR, GER, BLR, UKR

Magdalen Fularczyk (POL) – Gold

It’s amazing to win at home. We had a terrific race, it is incredible for us, we made it.

Milda Valciukaite (LTU) – Silver

It wasn’t such a good race as we had wanted. It was really good to pass GB. Our next race will maybe be World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne.

Katherine Grainger (GBR) – Bronze

It’s not where we want to be, it’s enjoyable to develop this double, but we want more. It’s a challenge to take advantage of our difference in height.

B-final

Denmark and the Czech Republic had the fastest start and they stuck together through the middle of the race with Greece also very much on the pace. Then the Danes of Mette Petersen and Lisbet Jakobsen got a slight edge, but it was Greece that the Danes now had to watch out for. Greece got there first with stroke Sofia Asoumanaki of Greece showing that her World Record speed on the ergometer helped her on the water.

Results: GRE, DEN, CZE, FRA, SRB, SWE