Men’s Double Sculls (M2x) – Final

The fastest time in yesterday’s semifinals had gone to New Zealand. Australia took the second fastest time. These two crews had met in the heats two days ago and New Zealand had finished first. But today was the medals race day and it was a clean slate at the start line. Norway’s Olaf Tufte and Kjetil Borch were the first to show. This boat is the Olympic bronze medallists with Tufte also being a two-time Olympic Champion in the single. The bow in New Zealand’s boat, John Storey was keeping an eye on Norway and they did a piece that got their boat just a bit ahead of Tufte and Borch by using a 39 stroke rate. Storey and partner Christopher Harris got to the half way point first with Norway just ahead of Australia in third.

Storey and Harris kept at 39 strokes per minute and this was helping them break away from the field. Norway remained in second with Poland pressing Australia for the bronze medal spot. The New Zealanders had clear water and looked like the gold was theirs, but the crowd was helping Poland on. Storey and Harris took gold, Tufte and Borch took silver and Poland’s Dominik Czaja and Adam Wicenciak raced through to take bronze.

Results: NZL, NOR, POL, AUS, BUL, ARG

John Storey (b), Christopher Harris (s), New Zealand, gold
“We were glad we managed to pull away in the second half, we felt like we still had a bit in the tank. We have some speed work between now and the next week. We should be able to do really well.”

Dominik Czaja (b), Poland, bronze
“After the European Championships in Racice we were in the quad and now we’re back in the double. Last week I was very sick and we couldn’t really train so I am really happy to get this medal after this great sprint and finish on the podium.”

B-final

France only just missed out on making the A-final in yesterday’s semifinals. But it was Germany One that had the upper hand through the first half of the race. France kept the pressure on and through the third 500 France closed on Germany and charged for the line. France – Quiqueret and Ducret – got ahead and crossed the line first in a very, very tight finish. Less than five seconds separated the entire field.

Results: FRA, GBR, CZE, GER1, NED2, GER2