Para PR1 Men’s Single Sculls (PR1 M1x) – Final

The Paralympic Champion, Roman Polianskyi of Ukraine set a new World Best Time earlier this week and he looked to be the one to beat in today’s final. But it was Russia’s Alexey Chuvashev who got out the quickest. Chuvashev has been rowing since 2009 and raced first internationally in 2010. He missed out on racing in the Paralympic Games but is back this season and he was leading Polianskyi by a fraction. Reigning World Champion, Erik Horrie of Australia was right on the pace and these three athletes pushed away together at the head of the field.

The stamina of Chuvashev began to falter as Polianskyi took over in the lead with Horrie still holding the pace. Horrie finished second to Polianskyi at the Rio Paralympics and these two athletes know each other well. In the final sprint Polianskyi was at 39 to Horrie’s 34-35 and there was nothing in it. Polianskyi had run out of steam and in the final 200m Horrie overtook and powered through to gold in a new World Best Time of 9:39.48.

Results: AUS, UKR, RUS, GBR, BRA, USA

Erik Horrie, Australia, gold
“The field has really stepped up this season but the athletes have stepped up even more. This was the hardest race of my life with Roman. Next season the differences will get even closer and closer.”

Roman Polianskyi, Ukraine, silver
“It was a really hard race. I found the change to 2km quite quick. I haven’t been able to adapt to it just yet. There is more to come from me.”

Alexey Chuvashev, Russia, bronze
“It was a good race. I love this new distance. The gaps are still quite big, but hopefully this will change next year.”

B-final

Germany and Poland were the fastest coming through from the semifinals and at the start Jaroslaw Kailing of Poland grabbed the lead. But it wasn’t a commanding lead with Germany and Italy going head-to-head behind him. Kailing, 54, first raced internationally in 2015 and he seems to have taken well to the 2000m distance. Germany’s Johannes Schmidt then did a second half push that propelled him into the lead with Italy now very much on the pace. Kailing was unable to come back as Schmidt rowed through to first place.

Results: GER, POL, LTU, ITA, FRA, AUT