Women's Double Sculls (W2x) - Olympic Final

The reigning Olympic Champion, Katherine Grainger of Great Britain was back to defend her title with new partner Victoria Thornley. But this duo was doubtful of making it after a fourth-place finish at this year’s European Rowing Championships. The duo, however, had pulled it together and done well in their heats earlier in the regatta. Today they were up against the 2013 World Champions, Donata Vistartaite and Milda Valciukaite of Lithuania as well as last year’s world medallists, Aikaterini Nikolaidou and Sofia Asoumanaki of Greece.

Grainger and Thornley led the way at the start with Poland, France and Lithuania following closely. Poland’s Magdalena Fularczyk and Natalia Madaj had a great heat a couple of days ago and they were in second coming through the second quarter of the race. At the half way point Poland had nearly caught the British with Lithuania back a bit in third. Notable in their absence was the World Champions, New Zealand who had not made it through the semifinal to this final.

Great Britain and Poland were going neck-and-neck at the head of the field and coming up on the 1500m mark Fularczyk and Madaj had nearly got their bow ball in front. Thornley and Grainger pushed back. Grainger was showing her pedigree of being at her fifth Olympic Games. Poland then 50m before the line did a surge. They were in front. Great Britain had no response. Poland had their first ever Olympic gold in rowing for women. Fularczyk and Madaj had made history. Grainger had become the most medalled British woman Olympian. For Lithuania’s Vistartaite and Valciukaite it was the first time women’s Olympic rowing medal for their nation since 2000.

Results: POL, GBR, LTU, GRE, FRA, USA

Magdalena FULARCZYK.KOZLOWSKA (POL) – gold

“It is the most amazing race, really hard, but we knew we could do it. This is our chance, this is our race. It is a dream come true.”

Natalia MADAJ (POL) – gold

“It’s amazing, the weather was hard but we did it. For me this is the best, the most important competition. I don’t know what to say it’s amazing.” 

Katherine GRAINGER (GBR) – silver

Really proud of it. You can’t leave and wish that you came away with a gold medal at the Olympics.There are many days nobody would have thought we would come away with anything. You can think of what might have been. We will take this result.

I don’t like leaving empty handed. To be honest this partnership has kept me going. Everyone on the team has made it worthwhile. You do it for yourself, for each other, for the country. That is the most incredible job we get to do.

Victoria THORNLEY (GBR) – silver

“This is my first Olympic medal. .we were leading it, but we gave it our all in difficult conditions. I am really proud of the race we put together. I just want to say thank you to Katherine, but also to my friends and family and the people on the team. Incredible support when we really needed it.” 

Donata VISTARTAITE (LTU) – bronze

“We are so excited and happy. All the good feelings you can have. It is really, wow a medal in the Olympics we are very happy. I can’t believe it until now. I think I am dreaming. We are waiting for the men to race and we hope one more medal as well.”

Milda VALCUIKAITE (LTU) – bronze

“I think any colour of medal would have been great. I am sure they are all watching right now and they are just as excited as us.” 

Olympic B-final

You know it’s tough when the double World Champions are sitting in a lane. Eve MacFarlane and Zoe Stevenson of New Zealand were unlucky to miss out on the A-final. There was also the 2016 European Champions lined up. Yuliya Bichyk and Tatsiana Kukhta of Belarus must have been hoping for a better result. At the start Germany had the lead. Marie-Catherine Arnold and Mareike Adams held off the World Best Time holders, Australia’s Sally Kehoe and Genevieve Horton. China was at the back of the field.

The Czech Republic and Belarus then went after the leaders and in the final sprint there was nothing between the top four boats. Just before the line a crab for Australia saw Belarus get into second with Germany holding on to first – and seventh overall at the Rio Olympic Games.

Results: GER, BLR, AUS, CZE, CHN, NZL