Women’s Single Sculls (W1x) – Final

A–Final

Today Switzerland was punching above their weight in rowing results and World Champion Jeannine Gmelin of Switzerland was yet to race. Anticipation was high as Gmelin lined up at the start. She comes through to the final as winner of both World Cups this season. Gmelin’s biggest challenge was likely to come from Sanita Puspure of Ireland who won her semifinal yesterday. The starting buzzer went and the very experienced Magdalena Lobnig of Austria faltered. Puspure jumped into the lead with Lobnig in hot pursuit. Gmelin was right with them in third. The usual fast-starting Anne Katrin Thiele of Germany was with the leading bunch.

At the head of the field coming into the middle of the race was Puspure and Gmelin who were switching the lead with every stroke. Then Gmelin did a push and managed to get a bit of an edge over Puspure. Now the United States’ Kara Kohler had overtaken Lobnig as was in a medal position. Kohler raced at the 2012 Olympics and took bronze in the quad. She switched to the single this season and raced in the b-final at World Rowing Cup I. Now Kohler was challenging Puspure with Gmelin moving away at the head of the field. The big sprinter Carling Zeeman of Canada was starting to show. The front of the field became tight. Four boats charged. The crowd gasped. Gmelin had only just done it over Puspure and Zeeman.

Results: SUI, IRL, CAN, USA, AUT, GER1

Jeannine Gmelin, Switzerland, gold
“That was a really awesome race, probably the best reason for me this season! Really had to fit for it and I love that. I spoke to Carling yesterday and said how amazing it would be to get the podium again today. I only get to race here once a year as I missed the Swiss Champs so it feels really amazing.”

Sanita Puspure, Ireland, silver
“That was a tough race, really physical out there but the conditions were really good. I always enjoy racing here! I’m not sure if I’ll do the Europeans, I might just focus on the World Rowing Championships.”

Carling Zeeman, Canada, bronze
“Obviously I wasn’t at this calibre at Belgrade as I was just coming out of an injury and lacked some confidence. At this regatta, I’ve just been remembering my training and as the other Canadian girls have followed the same programme and done so well, it really has given me lots of confidence to do well myself. I just kept thinking about internal queues and really working on technique. This was a really fun race and it’s rare that we get to race at such a caliber.”

Re-watch the race here

B-final

At the lead early on was Madeleine Edmunds of Australia. She had been part of a very tough semifinal yesterday which was won by World Champion Jeannine Gmelin. Also in that semifinal was Fie Udby Erichsen of Denmark who had led over Gmelin for half of the race. Edmunds continued to lead with the lower rating, powerful Erichsen holding second. Erichsen overtook Edmunds to finish seventh overall.

Results: DEN, AUS, UKR, NZL1, ESP, LTU