The year that was… women’s pair

Showing continuity was Great Britain. They remained the country to beat throughout the Olympic cycle and 2016 was no different. London 2012 Olympic and reigning World and European Champions Heather Stanning and Helen Glover continued their successful run since getting back together in 2014 and concluded the year unbeaten.

Stanning and Glover have been a winning combination and one of the most exceptional crews that the world of rowing has ever seen. They enjoyed an unbeaten streak dating back to 2011 and won the first Olympic gold in women’s rowing for Great Britain in London 2012. With Stanning announcing her retirement after ten years in the sport in November, their Rio gold concluded not only another successful year, but also their outstanding career together in the pair. They also hold the World Best Time (6:52.79). They are the only British women to have two Olympic golds in rowing.

Quote: “Heather has been my teammate for six years and in that time has been my voice of logic, a driving force, my friend, and my maid of honour. I’m fortunate enough to have sat at the start line of two Olympic Games with Heather. There is nobody else I would have wanted in the boat with me in those moments. (…) Thank you, Heather, not just for the success we shared, but for making it the most fun journey possible.” – Helen Glover on Heather Stanning’s retirement

Highlight: Heat One at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Lining up against the unbeaten British pair, known for leading from start to finish, made for an expected predictable outcome. But Denmark’s Hedvig Rasmussen and Anne Andersen completely shook up the status quo by leading Glover and Stanning until just five metres before the finish. The youngsters and first time Olympians from Denmark completed their impressive Olympic debut with bronze and thus winning the first medal in this boat class for their country. 

Photo pick: 

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The year in review: Besides Stanning and Glover, New Zealand’s Genevieve Behrent and Rebecca Scown continued to be a force to reckon with throughout the season. New Zealand has medalled at the World Championship level each year during the Olympic cycle and in 2016 Behrent and Scown claimed two World Cup silver medals and finished off the season with Olympic silver. It was the second Olympic medal for Scown, who is now the most successful woman Olympic rower for New Zealand. Rio was first Olympic Games for Behrent. Scown and Behrent also raced in the women’s eight at Rio finishing fourth.

Rio was the Olympic debut for bronze medallists from Denmark, Rasmussen and Andersen. The 22 and 24-year old duo continuously improved throughout the season finishing fifth at World Rowing Cup II and fourth at World Rowing Cup III.

With eight first time Olympians in the Rio final and three making it on to the medal podium, the future in the women’s pair certainly looks bright across several countries. Felice Mueller and Grace Luczak of the United States competed at their first Olympic Games and after winning World Rowing Cup II, they finished the season with a fourth place in Rio. South Africa and Spain followed in fifth and sixth respectively. South Africa’s Lee-Ann Persse and Kate Christowitz showed their potential early in the season by winning World Rowing Cup I and finishing second at World Rowing Cup II. Olympic debutants Aina Cid I and Anna Boada Peiro from Spain won bronze at World Rowing Cup I as well as winning the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta.

Video pick: https://youtu.be/wjLFv1DemAo