Lightweight Women's Single Sculls (LW1x) - Final

Coming through the middle of the race Pless still had the lead with the Canadian newcomer, Teresa Berkholtz in second. This order was not what was to be expected. Where were the successful boats from the semis?

It was all to change in the second half of the race as Peleman came charging through to take the lead as the final sprint came into view. Greece’s Aikaterini Nikolaidou was also charging and had got her stroke rate up to 37 in these technical conditions. Kathleen Bertko of the United States had also found another gear and had overtaken early leader Pless.

Now in the lead Peleman did what she could to hold on to first. But then just 50m from the finish line Peleman caught a crab. In an amazing one stroke recovery, Peleman got her oar back into the right position, looked out at the Greek and continued on to become the World Champion. Nikolaidou earned second and Bertko added to her lightweight medal collection with a bronze.                                                                

Results: BEL, GRE, USA, GER, CAN, CHN

Gold – PELEMAN, Eveline (BEL)
I can’t believe it, I thought it was over but it’s amazing. I just said sprint sprint sprint!

Silver – NIKOLAIDOU, Aikaterini (GRE)
The race was very hard. I started slow but rowed hard and got a medal. I am very happy.

Bronze – BERTKO, Kathleen (USA)
It is a gift for me to race here, I was just trying to avoid the buoys.

B-final

Marie-Anne Frenken of the Netherlands missed out on the A-final by just a second in the semifinals yesterday but it awarded her the favourable lane today. At the start Denmark had the lead with Frenken following in second. Christina Pultz of Denmark remained in front through the middle of the race using a 34 stroke rate to stay in front.  Did she have the kick to hold it in the final sprint? The answer was ‘yes’. Pultz took her stroke rate to 37 to stay ahead of Frenken at the end.

Results: DEN, NED, RSA, JPN, ISR, ALG