A Year In Review - Top 5 Olympic and Paralympic moments

It took an extra year to get started, but when it did the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games were like no other. Athletes had to follow Covid-19 protocols which included being allowed only at the venue of their sport.

They had to arrive just before their event, get regular covid-19 testing and then leave straight after their competition. Although they had an extra year to train, many of the athletes had very little opportunity to compete at a high level before the Games.

Despite there being no spectators, the rowers were not deterred and gave stunning performances, some of which will be remembered for a long time. We’ve picked out some of the top moments as we look back on the year that was 2021.

1. Women’s Single Sculls Final

Emma Twigg’s dominating final in the single with a fabulous rowing comeback. Emma retired from international competition after finishing a heart-breaking fourth at both the 2016 and 2012 Olympic Games. She made a comeback in 2019 and kept the momentum going to win the women’s single.

2. PR1 Men’s Single Sculls Final

Roman Polianskyi successfully defending the Paralympic men’s single despite the struggles along the way including becoming an internal displaced person in Ukraine. In the same final Australia’s Erik Horrie remained the biggest threat to Polianskyi and took silver with Brazil earning its second ever Paralympic medal with Rene Pereira coming through in third. But what added to the moment was the incredible race by Spain’s newcomer Javier Munoz who had the race of his life to finish fourth just inches ahead of Great Britain’s Benjamin Pritchard.

3. The Women’s Four

The return of the women’s four to the Olympics and a final that saw the Netherlands take silver despite their coach having to isolate due to a positive covid test. Ireland’s bronze was the first ever Olympic medal for Irish women in rowing. And winners, Australia set an Olympic Best Time.

4. Men’s Double Sculls Final

Hugo Boucheron and Matthieu Androdias of France winning the men’s double sculls. They were on such a roll in the final sprint that even a small crab couldn’t slow them down in one of the closest races of the regatta. China, Great Britain, France and the Netherlands were all within 2 seconds of each other coming into the final 500m. The French win ended up being just 0.2 of a second ahead of the Dutch.

5. Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls Final

The lightweight women’s double sculls went to a photo finish with Valentina Rodini and Federica Cesarini of Italy declared the winners to become the first ever Olympic gold for Italian women’s rowing. All six boats finished in less than two seconds of each other and through the race the lead changed several times.