Women’s double Sculls (W2x) – Finals

A-Final

The winners of the two semifinals both finished in the same time. That was New Zealand and the United States. But the New Zealand crew of Brooke Donoghue and Olivie Loe are the more established boat. They finished second at last year’s World Rowing Championships. There was, however, sitting in the United States 1 boat, Genevra Stone who is the Rio Olympic medallist in the single and has now returned, after a break, to top rowing. Stone has teamed up with Cicely Madden and they recently won the US trials over USA 2 of Meghan O’Leary and Ellen Tomek who sat one lane over.

At the start it was Australia’s Amanda Bateman and Genevieve Horton who belted out to an early lead. This seemed to leave the field napping. Stone and Madden took chase and got into the lead going through the second 500. At the half way point Stone and Madden still had the lead with only two seconds separating the rest of the field. Donoghue and Loe had had a rather lacklustre start and they were now playing catch up in quite a success manner.

Stone and Madden continued to lead with Australia holding on to second as they came into the final sprint. The margins began to close. Stone and Madden were on 37, Australia went to 37, New Zealand was at 37. Loe and Donoghue had taken the lead. Stone and Madden fought back. The race had been won just before the line.

Results: NZL1, USA1, AUS, USA2, CHN1, GER2

Olivia Loe (s), New Zealand
“We knew it would be a fast start so we’re really chuffed to come on the right side of the buzzer at the end. We expected a tough fight and this is exactly what we got. It is a really good indicator and a confidence booster.

Genevra Stone (s), United States of America
“We were right in front but New Zealand kept gaining and suddenly they were right next to us.”

Amanda Bateman (b), Australia
“We raced New Zealand and China already in our Semis heat so to try and anticipate their moves. We expected China to shoot at the start and have a really strong middle thousand. We hadn’t raced the USA yet, we just really wanted to focus on our own patterning and stick to our plan. In the last 750 meters, I saw we were in medal contention so we went for it. We’re still in this crew for Rotterdam but we’re not sure what will happen afterward.”

Re-watch the race here

B-final

Germany won at the European Championships earlier this month but they were pushed out of the final when they finished fourth in the semifinals yesterday. Leonie Menzel and Carlotta Nwajide of Germany 1 had a very slight lead at the start, but it was taken off them by Canada as they went through the middle of the race. Nwajide and Menzel fought back and these two crews went level together into the final sprint. Then Italy 1 came burning up the outside, overtook Canada, but could not reach Germany.

Results: GER1, ITA1, CAN, FRA2, BLR, ITA2