Four more medals awarded in blistering finals in Paris

Another intense day of racing at Paris’s Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical stadium concluded with four medal finals. With Tokyo 2020 Olympic medalists in some of the B Finals, new Olympic medallists were set to be crowned in several of the boat classes and there were a few additional surprises along the way.

Women’s double sculls (W2x) – Final

 Romania’s Radis and Bodnar were looking to defend their Olympic Champions title, but earlier rounds of racing had indicated that they might have their work cut out. Great Britain’s Becky Wilde and Mathilda Hodgkins Byrne absolutely flew off the start and got an early lead, but then came the Romanians.  GB were still leading at 500m, hugely impressive given they had only just come through the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta. Romania had moved into the lead at halfway, with GB second and the Netherlands in third but then here came the Kiwis – they were really shifting. GB were starting to go with them, they had seen the danger and were starting their sprint early. It was all closing up in the final quarter. The field was closing up in the sprint to the line. New Zealand and Romania were matching each other stroke-for-stroke, sprinting towards the line. They crossed the line, New Zealand 0.24 seconds ahead of Romania, preventing Romania from defending their Olympic title. It was an incredible bronze for Great Britain, who only qualified their boat a few weeks ago at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta.

Results: NZL, ROU, GBR, NED, FRA, NOR

B-Final

There was some surprise contenders in this B final including the Australians, who established the early lead. Amanda Bateman and Harriet Hudson continued to look impressive leading all the way despite challenges from the Americans, Sophia Vitas and Kristina Wagner. The Australians crossed the line first to secure seventh place ahead of Anna Santruckova and Lenka Luksova of Czechia, the USA in third.

Men’s double sculls (M2x) – Final

Going out like rockets, Romania and Spain were the two early leaders with Ireland and the Netherlands not far behind. Melvin Twellaar and Stef Broenink of the Netherlands won silver at Tokyo 2020 and were, of course, keen to better that here in Paris. There was a moment when it looked like it was going to be possible. Having been in third 500m in, they were then out in front with 500m to go. But Romania, who had led for the rest of the race, was going with them, and determined to get back in front. They did it. It was absolute history for Romania’s Andrei Sebastian Cornea and Marian Florian Enache as they secured the first-ever gold medal for Romania in that boat class. It was another Olympic silver for Twellaar and Broenink and an historic bronze for Ireland. It was particularly impressive for Phil Doyle, who had finished tenth in this boat class just three years ago in Tokyo.

Results: ROU, NED, IRL, USA, ESP, NZL

B-Final

Another B Final that was absolutely stacked with talent, including the reigning Olympic Champions from France. In fact, there were four Olympic medalists in this B final, Kjetil Borch sitting in the Norway crew and Zhiyu Liu, who won bronze in this boat class at Tokyo 2020. But it Serbia that led throughout this race, despite challenges from France. Martin Mackovic and Nikolaj Pimenov looked impressive all the way, with clear water ahead of France and Germany towards the line. Nobody could catch the Serbians, they secured seventh place, ahead of France and Germany.

Women’s four (W4-) – Final

 The Netherlands got out fast and established the lead ahead of Great Britain, crossing the 500m line first, but the Brits were chasing them hard, and we had seen the Brits come through in previous rounds. The race for bronze was really on too as New Zealand were level for Romania. Approaching the final quarter, it was hotting up at the front of the field. Who was going to go first? Further back, Romania were also starting to sprint, and closing the gap on New Zealand. Two races were going on, we could have a double photo finish. The Dutch and the British both up at 40 strokes per minute. Nothing separating them. It went all the way to the line, again! The Netherlands had done it. They had upgraded their silver medal from Tokyo 2020 and become World and Olympic Champions in the women’s four. Great Britain took silver while New Zealand had won the race to bronze ahead of Romania.

Results: NED, GBR, NZL, ROU, USA, CHN

B-Final

Two of the medal-winning nations from Tokyo 2020 found themselves in the Final B here in Paris – the reigning Olympic champions, Australia, and the bronze medalists, Ireland. The Irish crew, with two returners from the Tokyo crew, led from the start and crossed the line first to take seventh place. Meanwhile, Denmark overhauled Australia in the final quarter of the race to take 8th place. It was particularly wonderful to see Jean Mitchell racing in the Australian women’s four, Mitchell having recovered from a brain tumour.

Men’s four (W4-) – Final

The USA was the fastest off the start, up at 46 strokes per minute and at the first timing marker, there was nothing between them and New Zealand. The Americans started to open up slightly more of a lead ahead of the Kiwis at halfway with Italy in bronze medal position. Into the third quarter, GB started to close in on Italy – we had seen this before. The USA were still leading but they were starting to come under serious pressure from New Zealand. The Kiwis had gone at 500m to go and GB were shifting too. Less than 300m to go, this could still go so many ways. The Kiwis went up to 42 strokes per minute, but American went up to 44 and had the highest boat speed. Despite New Zealand’s valiant effort,  it wasn’t enough. The USA became Olympic champions for the first time in 64 years in this boat class. New Zealand took silver and it was bronze for Great Britain.

 Results: USA, NZL, GBR, ITA, ROU, AUS

B-Final

The Netherlands, understandably disappointed not to be in the medal final, went out hard, looking to secure the win. In the closing stages, France were pushing for their lives, perhaps boosted by the wall of noise from the home supporters, but they had too much to do. The Netherlands crossed the line first and secured seventh place, ahead of France then Switzerland.

Two more days of competition remain at the Paris 2024 Olympic Regatta. Tomorrow’s racing starts at 09:30 with the first medal race (men’s pair) at 11:30 CET.