Women’s Double Sculls (W2x) – Final

A-Final

The World Champions, New Zealand recorded the fastest time in yesterday’s semifinals. Brooke Donoghue and Olivia Loe of New Zealand did not lose a race last year and they began their 2018 season by winning at World Rowing Cup II. Winners of the other semifinal, the United States (Meghan O’Leary and Ellen Tomek) were silver medallists in 2017. These two crews sat in the centre lanes. It was France who were the fastest at the start despite Loe and Donoghue going at a higher rating. But Canada got to the first 500m mark in the lead with New Zealand slipping into second.

Coming into the half way point Loe and Donoghue had moved into the lead, putting Gabrielle Smith and Andrea Proske of Canada into second. This is the first international regatta for Proske with Smith having raced once at the under-23 level. As the Kiwis moved further ahead of the field, Canada tried to hold off the O’Leary and Tomek. What a race for this new sculling duo! Canada had taken silver. Meanwhile just behind, the World Cup leaders, the Netherlands were doing their signature sprint. Then a crab by Roos de Jong in the last 20m put them out of a medal chance.

Results: NZL, CAN, USA, NED, LTU, FRA

Olivia Loe (s), New Zealand, gold
“We were both pretty excited to race this as we both had things to work on since Linz. We normally have a conservative style but today we really attacked it. We were able to set the pace early and have a strong push, worked out well.”

Gabrielle Smith  (b), Canada, silver
“We’re pretty much speechless! This is our first international race and we’ve only been rowing together for three weeks and to compete in such a field of competitors has left us speechless.”

Re-watch the race here

B-final

The Czech Republic had the best time of these crews following yesterday’s semifinal. But today it was Aileen Crowley and Monika Dukarska of Ireland who grabbed the bull by the horns and took the lead. The Czech’s chased hard and then managed to overtake the Irish. Poland was very much on the pace as well. Kristyna Fleissnerova and Lenka Antosova went to 36 in the final sprint and just held off a charging Poland.

Results: CZE1, POL, IRL, CHN, SUI, AUS