History made as final Olympic & Paralympic spots in Rowing claimed for Paris 2024

It was an intense session of racing on Lucerne’s Rotsee as the finals in the Final Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regatta were raced. With 37 slots available for Paris across the 19 boat classes, there were historic moments, heart breaks, and photo finishes. For some, we will see them again in Vaires-sur-Marne in a few weeks and for others, the campaign comes to an end.

PR1 women’s single sculls (PR1 W1x)

Qualification Places: 1

It’s fair to say this race didn’t go quite as expected based on what we had seen in the heats. While Eva Mol of the Netherlands got out quickly and took the early lead, it was then Mukhayyo Abdusattarova of Uzbekistan that moved into the lead in the second quarter of the race and despite several attempts from Mol, she maintained the lead all of the way to the finish to cross the line first.

RESULT: UZB, NED, SWE, ARG, CAN, DEN

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PR1 men’s single sculls (PR1 M1x)

Qualification Places: 1

Alexis Sanchez (France) was determined to stamp his authority on this race so got out fast and established an early lead. With only one qualification place available, there was no opportunity to get left behind. Meanwhile, Brazil’s Rene Campos Pereira was wanting to secure the opportunity to represent Brazil at his third Paralympic Games, having won bronze at the most recent edition in Tokyo. He threw everything at the race, but didn’t have enough to overcome the Frenchman and Sanchez secured his place for a home games this summer.

RESULT: FRA, BRA, CHN, MEX, USA, EGY

 

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Women’s pair (W2-)

Qualification Places: 2

Keen to stamp their authority on the race early, France got out fast and established the early lead which they continued to hold at 500m. Denmark were hot on their heels and by halfway, the Danes had just edged ahead. The fight for the second qualification place was really heating up as New Zealand were still also well in contention, as were Croatia. What could the Jurkovic sisters do, with all of the pressure on their shoulders? With reigning Olympic Champion in this boat class, Grace Prendergast watching on, she was delighted to see an incredible final sprint from New Zealand as they secured the second qualifying place behind Denmark. What a race!

RESULT: DEN, NZL, CRO, FRA, ITA, GER

 

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Men’s pair (M2-)

Qualification Places: 2

It was the Stankunas twins from Lithuania that took the early lead but, keen to match the performance of their women’s pair, Denmark eventually overhauled the Lithuania pair. Denmark were in the lead at halfway and behind them there was a three boat battle for the second qualifying place. Things all started to heat up in the final stages of the race though as Germany started to make their move. Having led for much of the race, Denmark had been overhauled and the sprint to the line was between Germany, Lithuania and the Netherlands. It was too close to call on the line but eventually it was confirmed that Germany and Lithuania had secured the two qualifying places for Paris.

RESULT: GER, LTU, NED, DEN, CZE, SRB

 

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Women’s four (W4-)

Qualification Places: 2

Another Danish crew looking to qualify, they were fastest off the start with Ireland just behind. It looked fairly set at halfway with Denmark still in the lead and Ireland just behind, could any other crew challenge them? Into the third quarter of the race the Irish started to lift their boat speed and were closing the gap on Denmark. Spain were sat in third, but it looked like it would be too much for them to move into the top two places. Ireland had an incredible final sprint and Denmark really had to go with them. The Irish sprint was enough to get them across the line first with Denmark taking the second qualifying place. For them remainder of the crews, the Olympic dream was over.

RESULT: IRL, DEN, ESP, POL, CHI, JPN

 

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Men’s four (M4-)

Qualification Places: 2

There was absolutely nothing to separate the top four crews in the early stages of the race with Italy, Switzerland, South Africa, and Germany within less than a second of each other at 500m. By halfway, Germany and South Africa had dropped back from the field slightly and Italy were continuing to lead, but Switzerland was chasing them hard. It was still far from over. Into the closing stages, the famous Italian sprint kicked in and they opened up more of a lead over Switzerland. However, Germany couldn’t do anything to close the gap on Switzerland and, to the delight of the home supporters, the Swiss four claimed the second qualifying place.

RESULT: ITA, SUI, GER, DEN, RSA, UKR

 

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PR3 mixed double sculls (PR3 Mix2x)

Qualification Places: 1

With China not racing, it was just three boats on the start line racing for the one qualifying place. Brazil was looking comfortable at halfway. However, into the second half of the race, Ukraine was starting to close the gap. They were really winding up for the line in the last 500m. It could be heart break for Brazil. And then, disaster, Brazil caught a crab and Ukraine sculled to Paralympic qualification!

RESULT: UKR, BRA, THA

 

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Lightweight women’s double sculls (LW2x)

Qualification Places: 2

This was a race that so many people had been looking forward to. Could anyone prevent Italy or France from qualifying for another Olympic Games? It was Greece that was first off the start, narrowly ahead of France. By 500m France had moved into the lead, narrowly ahead of Greece, with Australia in third and Italy fourth. It was far too early to call this one! France continued to lead Greece at halfway and then there was a slightly larger gap back to Australia and then the reigning Olympic Champions from Italy. As the race came into the closing stages, would Italy have a sprint, could anyone prevent France from securing a place at a home Games? It started to close up but Tarantola and Bove were looking set. France had qualified, Greece took the second place.

RESULT: FRA, GRE, AUS, ITA, SUI, ESP

 

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Lightweight men’s double sculls (LM2x)

Qualification Places: 2

Keen to match the performance of their lightweight women’s double, the French boat got out fast, but it was Greece again challenging them, less than a second behind at 500m. By halfway, the Greeks has taken control of the race but France were still sitting in the second qualifying place. However, Germany were also overlapping so the qualifying was certainly not confirmed yet. The field really started to close up in the closing stages. Germany was coming, France and Greece had to sprint. The French had regained the lead. Germany ran out of time and it was France then Greece who took the two qualifying places.

RESULT: FRA, GRE, GER, POL, POR, AUT

 

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PR2 mixed double sculls (PR2 Mix2x)

Qualification Places: 2

Yet another race where France got out fast! They maintained their lead at 500m with Israel sitting in second qualifying place. Germany, in third, were certainly not out of contention. France were continuing to look dominant in the second half of the race, responding to anything that Israel could throw at them. Germany really sprinted towards the line, but they didn’t have enough. It was another ticket to a home Games for France with Israel taking the second spot.

RESULT: FRA, ISR, GER, BRA, USA, THA

 

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Women’s double sculls (W2x)

Qualification Places: 2

This race had so many high quality crews and it was all to play for. Czechia were first to the 500m marker with Switzerland in second place, but it was so close behind with only South Africa marginally off the pace. By halfway, the British duo were starting to pile on the pressure and had moved into the all-important second place. Czechia were still leading, and the race was far from over. Czechia and Great Britain started to open up more of a lead as the finish line approached and despite a desperate attempt from Germany, there was nothing they could do. Czechia took the win, and it was another British boat on the road to Paris!

RESULT: CZE, GBR, GER, RSA, SUI, POL

 

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Men’s double sculls (M2x)

Qualification Places: 2

The Australians had the fastest start and by 500m, David Bartholot and Marcus Della Marta were in the lead with Serbia sat in second place. Australia still led the race at halfway, but in the third quarter, the American duo of Sorin Koszyk and Ben Davison started to make their move, and worked their way through from third to first. Despite Sweden having the quickest final 500m, it wasn’t enough, and Australia had slipped out of the two qualifying places also. The USA led to the line to win to cross comfortably ahead of Serbia’s Martin Mackovic and Nikolaj Pimenov.

RESULT: USA, SRB, AUS, SWE, GRE, MDA

 

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PR3 mixed coxed four (PR3 Mix4+)

Qualification Places: 2

Italy was fastest off the start and looked strong out the front of the field. Brazil were sitting in second, but it definitely wasn’t set yet. Italy was looking really dominant into the second half of the race and with 500m to go they had more than eight seconds lead over Brazil who, in turn had eight seconds lead over Spain. The Italian crew was absolutely untouchable and approached the line to secure Paralympic qualification comfortably ahead of Brazil, who took the second place.

RESULT: ITA, BRA, ESP, UZB, KOR, MEX

 

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Women’s quadruple sculls (W4x)

Qualification Places: 2

France, Canada and Ukraine were impossible to separate off the start. By 500m, Ukraine had established the lead, but Poland had also come into the mix. It was looking like it could be another close one. Ukraine continued to lead at halfway, with the USA sitting in the second qualifying place, but Poland and Canada still well in contention. The positions were unchanged at the 1,500m marker, but then the sprints started to come. Olympic qualification was at stake and USA were now giving it everything. In the final stages, they overhauled Ukraine, and Canada were coming with them too.

RESULT: USA, UKR, CAN, FRA, POL, NZL

 

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Men’s quadruple sculls (M4x)

Qualification Places: 2

Norway absolutely flew off the start, hitting 44 strokes per minute. They took the lead which they maintained for all of the first half of the race, but the chase was really on behind them with Estonia, USA, Australia and France all battling it out to be in the top two. This was going to be a close one! Norway were now being pushed really hard, particularly by Estonia. The cheers came up from the American supporters in the grandstands as their crew sprinted towards the line. Norway crossed the line first and there a moment delay whilst the second place was analysed. Estonia had done it! The USA had missed out on Olympic qualification by just 0.13 seconds.

RESULT: NOR, EST, USA, FRA, UKS, AUS

 

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Men’s single sculls (M1x)

Qualification Places: 3

This was billed to be quite a battle, we were expecting fireworks. Konan Pazzaia of Ireland had the lead at 500m with Mihai Chiruta of Romania sitting in second place, but it was far from over. By halfway, Chiruta had moved into the lead and it was still far to early to call. It was all change again with 500m to go and Jacob Pihal of the USA had moved into the lead. Gosh, this was a hell of a race. Inside the final 250m it was still impossible to call. What could Borch do? In one of the most incredible sprints to the finish of the day, the field really started to close up. Chiruta regained the lead, with Pihal just behind. Romania had done it, they had qualified a men’s single scull for the Olympic Games for the first ever time. USA claimed the second qualifying spot. Nobody in this race was eligible for the third qualifying place.

RESULT: ROU, USA, ITA, NOR, GBR, IRL

 

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Women’s eight (W8+)

Qualification Places: 2

Italy were on a mission to make history in this race, and qualify a women’s eight for the Olympic Games for the first ever time. They were looking strong in the early stages, with China looking possible to take the second qualifying place. But what could Denmark or Germany do in the second half of the race? History was made as Italy continued to dominate to the line whilst the race for the second qualification s second spot really heated up. China was sprinting, but here come Denmark! Denmark was also on a mission to make history – and they did it. It was the first time ever that both Italy and Denmark had qualified a women’s eight for the Olympic Games. What a historic moment!

RESULT: ITA, DEN, CHN, GER

 

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Women’s single sculls (W1x)

Qualification Places: 3

Puspure was really putting down a marker and had a comfortable lead by 500m with Switzerland’s Janzen sitting in second place. By the 1,000m marker, Spain’s Virginia Diaz Rivas had moved into second place. Janzen was really having to take her rate up in the third quarter of the race in a desperate attempt to move back into the all-important second place. As the race came into the business end, there was an upset for Puspure as she looked to run out of steam. Diaz Rivas and Janzen moved into the top two places and it was all over for Ireland’s bid to qualify.

RESULT: ESP, SUI, SLO, CZE, IRL, JPN

 

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Men’s eight (M8+)

Qualification Places: 2

The USA were on a mission here and were leading the way ahead of Canada with Austria in third and Italy being dropped off the back of the field. At halfway, the USA were looking strong with a lead over Canada whilst Austria were starting to drop back. With two qualifying and two not, it was already starting to look fairly set. The USA continued to lead and Canada was comfortably in second with 500m to go but then came the Italian sprint. They went up and up and although the USA were confirmed as the winners, we had to wait for the result to be confirmed for the second qualifying place. It was Italy!! They had done it, beating Canada by 0.45 seconds on the line. The noise from the Italians were incredible, there is going to some celebrations across Italy!

RESULT: USA, ITA, CAN, AUT

 

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