Women's Single Sculls (W1x) - Final

All eyes were on Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic. Knapkova has spent her entire rowing career in the single and slowly and steadily worked her way to becoming Olympic Champion at the 2012 Olympic Games. Knapkova is the reigning European Champion, but did not do so well at the 2014 World Rowing Championships. Switzerland’s Jeannine Gmelin had a great race in the heats two days ago to win her heat in a very quick time. 

The first to show in this A-final was Fie Udby Erichsen of Denmark. Erichsen medalled at the London Olympics before taking a break from rowing to have a baby. Erichsen, however, took very little time away from training and she started her comeback campaign last year. Erichsen still held the lead at half way with Belarus’s Tatsiana Kukhta the closest challenger with Knapkova in fifth.

Then the Czech began to move. First Knapkova overtook Gmelin and then Ireland and then went after Erichsen. Had Knapkova left her run too late? Or did she have energy to spare? In the final sprint Knapkova pushed into first leaving the lesser medals to Gmelin and Kukhta. This was definitely a race that was decided in the final sprint with early leads meaning nothing. Knapkova had successfully defended her European title. 

Results: CZE, SUI, BLR, LTU, IRL, DEN

Mirka Knapkova (CZE) – Gold

I was really confident to race today as I had some experience this season already in Bled. My only goal was not to go under 30 strokes per minute and it worked really well.

Jeannine Gmelin (SUI) – Silver

I wanted to make it to the final, it’s my first medal and I just can’t believe I made it.

Tatsiana Kukhta (BLR) – Bronze

I am happy, but it was not a good race today, I just want to be faster.

B-final

Julia Richter of Germany is more used to racing in a quadruple sculls, at this regatta, however, she was in the single and leading for the first half of the race. Then Lisa Scheenaard of the Netherlands took over in the lead with Richter trying to hold on. The Dutch support was strong as Scheenaard took her boat across the finish line in first. Then, much to the home crowd’s delight, Poland’s Julia Michalska sprinted through to second. 

Results: NED, POL, GER, GBR, BEL