Daily Digest: Day 4 in Paris - short but intense!

A short but critical fourth day of racing in Paris for the 2024 Olympic Regatta saw further rounds of racing for the single and double sculls and concluded with repechages for the fours. It was another warm day although the short session fortunately meant rowers were off the water before the temperatures really increased.

24 down to 12 in single sculls

The quarterfinals of the single sculls saw the field of 24 be narrowed down to the 12 who will progress to the semifinals A/B and continue on the hunt for a medal.

In the women’s boat class all three medallists from Tokyo as well as all three from last year’s World Rowing Championships were racing, spread across the four quarterfinals. 2023 World Rowing bronze medallist Tara Rigney (Australia) led from the start and looked confident, crossing the line almost seven seconds ahead of Spain’s Virginia Diaz Rivas.

The second quarterfinal saw the current World Champion from the Netherlands take to the water. Similar to Rigney in the previous race, Karolien Florijn also led from the start, but the former World Rowing U23 Champion Alexandrea Foester (Germany) was hot on her heels the whole way.

In quarterfinal 3, it was a fast start for the youngest competitor in this boat class, 20 year old Aurelia Mazima Janzen (Switzerland), but she was soon reeled in by the oldest, and most experienced, Emma Twigg (New Zealand) who, aged 37, is competing at her fifth Olympic Games. Twigg is looking to defend her title of Olympic Champion and posted the fastest time across the four quaterfinals (7:26.89).

The last of the quarterfinals saw a win for Lithuania’s Viktorija Senkute. It was a strong performance from her finishing ahead of the silver and bronze medallists from Tokyo, Anna Prakaten and Magdalena Lobnig.

Zeidler’s Olympic mission continues 

Tom Mackintosh continued to look impressive at the Olympic Regatta when he took control of the race from the offset and led all of the way, finishing ahead of Denmar’s Sverri Nielsen, who was fourth in the single scull in Tokyo. Meanwhile, Germany’s Oliver Zeidler is here to make amends after he missed out on making the Olympic final in Tokyo. He’s come to Paris as reigning World Champion and is looking strong. He comfortably won the second quarterfinal, despite a very fast start from Paraguay’s Javier Insfran, and clocked the fastest time of the day (6:45.32).

The third quarterfinal was absolutely stacked with the gold and bronze medallists from the Tokyo Olympics, and last year’s World silver medallist, Simon van Dorp of the Netherlands. Nobody could catch them and those three secured their place in the semifinals. The Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) Yauheni Zalaty took the win in the fourth and final race.

“I’m feeling good and I’m looking forward to the next round. I need to check who will be in my semi. I think it will be a tough race again because it’s the Olympics. Everyone wants to go in this final, everyone wants to win this medal, so that’s what I expect.”

Oliver Zeidler, M1x, Germany

Finalists confirmed in tense semis

As the focus moved from single sculls to double sculls, the intensity increased as they were now racing for places in the medal finals. First up the women’s double sculls. You could tell there was a French crew in the first semifinal given the noise from the grandstands and it surely will have provided a huge boost to Elodie Ravera Scaramizzno and Emma Lunatti. New Zealand has an Olympic silver medallist to defend in this boat class and Brooke Francis and Lucy Spoors looked strong as they sculled to a win. The Netherlands took the second qualifying place and the home support had worked for France as they confirmed their place in the final.

It was a strong start for Great Britain’s Rebecca Wilde and Mathilda Hodgkins Byrne in the second semifinal and they took the early lead. The Brits continued to lead at halfway, would we see something from the experienced double from Romania? Yes, we would! Here came Bodnar and Radis and they moved from 4th at 1500m to first at the line. The Brits managed to hang on to the second qualifying place, with Norway’s Thea Helseth and Inger Seim Kavlie taking the third spot.

Tension continues for the men’s doubles

The crowds having just recovered from the epic semifinals in the women’s double sculls, it was time for the men’s, and with places in Olympic finals up for grabs, they were equally as intense. In the first semifinal, it was a slow start for the Dutch duo Melvin Twelllaar and Stef Broenink, who won silver in this boat class in Tokyo. They were in the dangerous fourth place at 1,000m but seemed to find some more speed in the second half and worked their way through the field to take the win. Spain and Romania also secured their place in the final.

The second semifinal had the reigning Olympic Champions in, Hugo Boucheron and Matthieu Androdias, now racing on home waters. But that wasn’t enough, and they never quite managed to get into the top three. Ireland’s Phil Doyle and Daire Lynch, who had looked impressive in the heats came through from third at halfway to take the win with the USA and New Zealand also booking a place in the medal final.

“It feels great to be here, to be part of the Olympic final. It’s an experience that I have never had before. I’m confident for the final A, and we’ll see what we can do there.” 

Marian Florian Enache, M2x, Romania

Tokyo medallists miss out on Final

It was not to be for the women’s fours from Australia or Ireland as they both missed out on the all-important top two in the repechage, eventually finishing fifth and fourth respectively. While China led most of the way, the United States of America eventually came through to secure top place and both the USA and China will go again in the final on Thursday.

“We knew from yesterday and from other races that they go ham (go hard) off the start, so we decided we were just going to stick on to them, and see if we could stay close enough and push through in the second half.  In this case, it paid off. We’ll see what happens on finals day.”

Emily Kallfelz, W4-, United States of America

Photo finish in men’s four

The host nation, France, was leading the men’s four 500m into the race, but it was clear it was going to be a close one as Italy and Romania, both medallists from Tokyo in this boat class, were keen to secure their places in another Olympic final. The positions had changed by halfway and Italy had moved into the lead with France still holding the critical second place. It was still the same at 500m to go. But then came that now-very-familiar Romanian sprint. They were attacking France, hard. The noise from the supporters was increasing, France was having to respond. Romania went up to 50 strokes per minute and came alongside France. It was a photo finish. Italy were first. The supporters waited. It was not to be for France. Romania had beaten them to the line by just 0.07 seconds and the host nation would miss out on the chance of racing for a medal.

“The last 500 is the most exciting part of the race. We train every day in this part and today was what we train for every day.”

Ciprian Tudosa, M4-, Romania

“Despite everything, that was a huge race and we’re happy with our race. It’s the first time in the last two years that we’re not in the final, but I still think it’s our best race of the Olympiad. We have no regrets. Even if we were disappointed crossing the line, there’s no regrets in the way we raced the race.

Teo Rayet, M4-, France

First medals tomorrow

The temperature is rising in Paris – in all sorts of ways! The first medals will be awarded tomorrow in two boat classes – the men’s and women’s quadruple sculls. But, before that, we will have semifinals of the coxless pairs and lightweight double sculls to look forward to. Bring on day 5!