2014 World Rowing Championship rowers go for gold

For immediate release
Amsterdam, 29 August 2014

The 2014 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam, the Netherlands head into the finals of the 14 Olympic boat classes. These finals are spread over two days with racing taking place in the afternoon on the Bosbaan regatta course.

Highlighted races include the lightweight men’s double sculls. This boat class has been dominated throughout the 2014 season by Jeremie Azou and Stany Delayre of France. But the reigning World Champions, Kristoffer Brun and Are Strandli of Norway have been setting some impressive times during this regatta. The Italians, who finished fourth last year, are also looking to step up into the medals.

The women’s quadruple sculls has seen reigning World Champions, Germany remain in control this season. China, however, has come to Amsterdam with an impressive crew that set the fastest qualifying time during the semifinals. China has a history in this boat class with a gold medal from the Beijing Olympic Games. For the men’s quadruple sculls Great Britain has proved their strength this season and will face Ukraine in the final.

The men’s double sculls final will be raced on Sunday and it will be hard to look past Croatia’s Martin and Valent Sinkovic. The Sinkovic brother set a new World Best Time during the semifinals and they come into the final unbeaten all season. But margins are close and with the silver and bronze medallists from 2013 – Lithuania and Italy – both on form, this race will be tight. Australia’s James McRae and Alexander Belonogoff are also in a good position to medal.

Australia will be hoping for a medal as well in the women’s double sculls. Sally Kehoe and Olympia Aldersey of Australia set a new World Best Time in the semifinals and in the process beat the reigning World Champions, Milda Valciukaite and Donata Vistartaite of Lithuania. European Champions Poland (Magdalena Fularczyk and Natalia Madaj) are also on the pace.

There is a chance for a New Zealand double header in the men’s and women’s single sculls. Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand finished second to Marcel Hacker of Germany in the semifinals but this may be the incentive he needs to push harder in the final. Drysdale’s teammate, Emma Twigg has not lost a race all season in the women’s single and she is set to face the World Champion, Kim Crow of Australia in the final.

Olympic Champions Germany finished second to Great Britain last year in the men’s eight. But the British were beaten by Germany during the heats. This has opened the race up to a potential return of the Germans to the top spot. Also looking to be on the medals podium is Poland. In the women’s eight the World and Olympic Champions from the United States have put themselves in a good position to continue to rule the top spot. Their biggest challenge will come from Canada.

Saturday’s finals begin at 13:33 CET and continue through until 17:45 CET. On Sunday the finals will begin at 13:03 CET until 14:33 CET. All of the finals will be live streamed on www.worldrowing.com.

For results, schedules, full race reports, photos and live blogging go to www.worldrowing.com.