Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls (BLM2x) – Final

It was hard to pick a favourite in this race as a number of crews had come through from the repechage to qualify for the semifinals. In the semifinals yesterday Denmark and Canada had won their respective semis, but Canada had beaten Denmark in the heats. It was a clean slate today and all six boats left the blocks together with Spain moving slightly quicker. Spain won this boat class last year and Rodrigo Conde Romero remains in the boat this year. Italy got to the first 500m marker in the lead. The Italian crew of Antonio Vicino and Gabriel Soares set a new under-23 World Best Time earlier in the week and they were racing with a very accomplished crew. Vicino was second in this boat class last year.

Italy still had the lead going through the middle of the race with Conde Romero and partner Jordi Rodriguez moving with them. Denmark and Canada were also very much on the pace with less than two seconds separating these four boats. Coming through to the final sprint Italy kept the pace on as margins closed. Italy held 38 as Denmark charged through at 42 with Spain at 41. Vicino and Soares were ready and went to 45 crossing the line in first.

Results: ITA, DEN, ESP, CAN, RSA, GER

Antonio Vicino (b), Italy, gold
“We were off the start quite quickly. The first part of our race was very fast as was the finish. We had the lead in the middle, but were battling it out at either end. Cazzimma!”

Alexander Modest (s), Denmark, silver
“Our race plan went exactly as expected. We were focusing on keeping our head in the boat. We fought it out with Canada, they were quite close and they are quite strong. We knew we were close to those who were ahead of us, so I made the call to go for gold. We ended up with silver. We are not sure about the rest of our season, we might go to the European under 23s.”

Rodrigo Conde Romero (s), Spain, bronze
“We had a good race. There wasn’t anything in it during the whole time. Anything could have happened. In the last stroke, Denmark just went ahead. The plan was from the first stroke to go out hard for the whole race.”

B-final

Great Britain had withdrawn for medical reasons leaving a five boat race.  Ireland had the fastest time in the semifinals yesterday. But it was Chile that led the way at the start. Then Japan did an impressive piece and moved ahead of Chile. Chile’s Cesar Abaroa and Eber Sanhueza Rojas however fought back and got back into the lead coming through the final sprint at 38. Ireland was now charging and hit 40 then 41. Chile held off the flying Irish.

Results: CHI, IRL, JPN, POR, POL