PRESS RELEASE: Another day of record breaking times at Eton Dorney

Great Britain's most medalled female rower Katherine Grainger and her teammate in the women's double sculls Anna Watkins set the new Olympic standard to 6:44.33. The previous time, nearly five seconds slower, was set 20 years ago at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games by Germany. Grainger and Watkins qualify directly for the A-final and hope to become the first British women to win Olympic gold in rowing.

In the first of three heats in the men's four, Australia established a new Olympic Best Time of 5:47.06, breaking the previous best time set in 2004 by Germany. Australia won Olympic gold in this boat class in 1992 and in 1996 – three-time Olympic gold medallist Drew Ginn, competing here at his fourth Olympic Games at age 37, was part of the winning four in Atlanta, USA back in 1996. Great Britain's men's four, gold medallists at the last three Olympic Games in 2000, 2004 and 2008, won heat two today, qualifying for the semifinal. The USA men's four won the third heat in this event. The A-final on Saturday 4 August will likely be a showdown between Great Britain and Australia.

Georgeta Andrunache from Romania is rowing's most medalled Olympic rower with six Olympic medals, including five golds. She and partner Viorica Susanu are the Olympic Champions in the women's pair from 2004 and 2008. Taking a break after Beijing and coming back to the international rowing scene this year, they both managed to qualify for Wednesday's A-final through the repechage.

Italy's Simone Raineri is participating in his fourth Olympic Games here at London 2012, and has raced in the men's quadruple sculls each time. With Olympic gold and Olympic silver already hanging around his neck, he and his crew have qualified for the semifinal today through the repechage. The A-final on Friday 3 August could add another Olympic medal to the collection of 35-year-old Raineri.

In the "Blue Riband" event of the day, the men's eight (M8+), Great Britain, Canada, the Netherlands and Australia all qualified through to Wednesday's A-final. Great Britain lead from the start holding off challenges from Canada and Australia.

With heats racing now over, semifinals will commence tomorrow 31 July and Finals will be raced over four days, starting on Wednesday 1 August and concluding on Saturday 4 August.

Visit our web page dedicated to the 2012 Olympic Rowing Regatta for our live race tracker, race reports, features, quick quotes, photos, links to results, start lists and more.

To view the overall list of Best Times, please click here.

Results and Start Lists can be viewed here.

Today's race report can be found here.