Men's Double Sculls (M2x) - Olympic Final

Could Croatia continue their winning streak? Martin and Valent Sinkovic of Croatia took silver at London in the men’s quadruple sculls. Since coming together in the double in 2014 they have not lost a race and also gained the World Best Time as the first double ever to go under six minutes. Now they went after Olympic gold. Croatia shot out early with Lithuania’s Mindaugas Griskonis and Saulius Ritter following in second. Griskonis was meant to race the single at this regatta, but when Ritter’s partner got injured, Griskonis came into the boat. France followed a distance back in third. Together Croatia and LIthuania broke away from the field with Norway, Italy and France all on top of each other. Norway’s boat included the incredible Olaf Tufte. The 40-year-old Tufte is a two-time Olympic Champion in the men’s single. Back at the Sydney Olympics, Tufte took silver in the double. Tufte was racing with first-time Olympian and 2013 World Champion in the double, Kjetil Borch.

The Croatians and Lithuanian’s remained neck-and-neck, stroke for stroke at the head of the field with Italy and Norway matching each other for third. Then Griskonis and Ritter did something that has not been done before. They got ahead of Croatia. This is the Olympic Games and anything can happen. What would the Sinkovic brothers do? Fight back. Rating 38 Martin and Valent were back in the lead with Ritter and Griskonis now trying to hold off a flying Tufte and Borch. Tufte had taken his boat to 39 and was showing true Olympic form. The 40-year-old had medalled. The Sinkovics had become Olympic Champions and become the first ever Olympic Champions in rowing for their country. Awesome job for Ritter and Griskonis. Lithuania will be proud.

Results: CRO, LTU, NOR, ITA, GBR, FRA

Valent SINKOVIC (CRO) – gold 

“It is an incredible feeling, we can’t be happier. It was a very tough race. They (Lithuania) were very good in 3^rd 500, but we managed to pull something special in the last 500. We saw Lithuania was tiring and we pushed all the way. I can’t wait to talk with them (my parents), they are very, very proud.”

Martin SINKOVIC (CRO) – gold

“It is Olympic Games (that is how we found something special). The tears are coming now. I am so happy. It’s incredible.” 

Mindaugas GRISKONIS (LTU) – silver

“We feel very good, it was a tough race, but very good. It was always my dream. I was competing in the single and we found out in the double we can row very fast. The race was very tough. I still don’t believe it, that we won a medal.”

Saulius RITTER (LTU) – silver

“I enjoyed every stroke, I enjoyed the battle. That was really rare. We hoped to do the best we could. We just wanted to do our best race and see what happens. I am very happy. Once it is around my neck (the medal) I will believe it.” 

Kjetil BORCH (NOR) – bronze

“We crashed the waves a bit too much with the oars and we couldn’t get the good flow. So, not enough speed. That is the main challenge we had.”

Olaf TUFTE (NOR) – bronze

“I am happy to be on the podium, but disappointed in not making the best we can. I knew we couldn’t beat the Croatians, but we wanted more. To be back in a team boat, I am really happy about that. It is something else. I am really happy about the 4 months we had together. I had to change my bad habits. I think I improved quite much, but maybe not enough.” 

Olympic B-final

Last year the New Zealand crew of Robert Manson and Christopher Harris finished third. They were hoping for better results at these Olympics especially as New Zealand won in this boat class at the London Olympics. But a very tough semifinal put them into this B-final. Today they raced at the head of the field with Australia and Germany chasing hard. In the German boat was 39-year-old Marcel Hacker who took bronze in the single at the Sydney Olympics. Then David Watts and Christopher Morgan of Australia did a third 500m push and got ahead of New Zealand with Germany moving as well. Australia did just enough to hold off Germany who closed their regatta with a bang.

Results: AUS, GER, BUL, SRB, NZL