Remaining Youth Olympic Games medals handed out in rowing

The Junior men’s single sculls started with Semifinal One and there was a very strong line-up at the start comprising of Peru, Australia, Switzerland and Moldova. All four rowers had previously placed first in one of their heats or qualifying rounds with times very close to one another. In the last 20 metres Peru was half a length in front of Australia’s Cormac Kennedy-Leverett. Switzerland’s Kai Schaetzle placed third just in front of Moldova’s Ivan Corsunov.

In the second semifinal, Belarus, Greece, Czech Republic and Ukraine raced head to head for the last two spots in the final, which the Ukrainian and Belarussian rowers secured. Just 18 minutes after the start of the last semifinal the crews for the finals lined up again. There was a tough battle between Ukraine and Belarus for top position, but just before the finish, Ivan Tyshchenko from Ukraine managed to give a stronger last push to cross the line first, making him the 2018 Youth Olympic gold medallist in the junior men’s single scull.

The first junior women’s single sculls semifinal had a strong line up which included, Argentina, Estonia, Australia and France. Thehome favourite, Maria Sol Ordas once again came first, followed by Greta Jaanson from Estonia.  Soboth scullers progressed to the final. In the second semifinal, there was Sweden, Mexico, Cuba and Uzbekistan. Both Sweden and Uzbekistan qualified for the final.  

From the start of the competition Sweden’s Elin Lindroth and Greta Jaanson of Estonia have been showing medal promise. Lindroth placed second behind Maria Sol Ordas only by 0.50 of a second. The crowd erupted in cheers and celebration. Sol Ordas was the first Argentinian athlete to win a gold medal at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games. One surprise was seeing Luizakhon Islomova of Uzbekistan reach the final. Islomova finished fourth but showed her potential for future rowing success.

Thursday 10 October 2018 marked the last day of racing in rowing at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Games continue until the 18 October. The next YOG will take place in Senegal in 2022.