Olympic titles defended and redemption on Day 7 in Paris

On a slightly cooler day than the earlier days, four more Olympic medals were awarded at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, with two Olympic titles being defended, and redemption in the lightweight women’s double sculls.

Men’s pair (M2-) – Final

The packed grandstands fell silent as the starter called out the names of the crews, and then it got underway. A race that could go down in history. Romania was fast off the start with a high stroke rate, but Great Britain was the first into the lead. GB had a half length lead ahead of Romania through the 500m marker. Passing halfway, the British pair was continuing to lead but Romania was now starting to draw up level and surely the Croatian Sinkovic brothers would have more to give? Great Britain were responding to Romania but here came Switzerland, the reigning World Champions! It was all closing up. The Croatians had gone up to 40 strokes per minute – could they catch Great Britain? Yes, they could! GB came under serious pressure, caught a crab just before the line and Croatia secured the win. They had defended their title as Olympic Champions, an amazing birthday present for Valent Sinkovic. It was heart break for Great Britain having led for so much of the race and lost it in the last few strokes. Switzerland came away with the bronze medal.

Results: CRO, GBR, SUI, ROU, ESP, IRL

B-Final

The Stankunas brothers from Lithuania flew off the start but it wasn’t long until Germany moved into the lead, closely tracked by New Zealand. Those three boats crossed the 500m marker within less than a second. In the second half of the race, South Africa started to move up the field into the top three, with Lithuania looking to be paying the price for their first start. Things really started to hot up in the closing stages. New Zealand were comfortable out the front of the field, but USA were challenging hard and now Lithuania seemed to have find some more energy and were also sprinting towards the line. New Zealand took the honours, with Lithuania finishing second. What a finish!

Women’s pair (W2-) – Final

The Netherlands ceased the early lead – this pair has raced together for so long. Ymkje Clevering and Veronique Meester were looking absolutely dominant with a length lead by 500m and then starting to open up clear water ahead of Jessica Morrison and Annabelle McIntyre of Australia, who were Olympic gold medallists in the women’s four at Tokyo 2020. Meanwhile, Lithuania, Romania and Greece were all chasing the bronze. Into the third quarter, the gold was looking pretty certain – surely nobody could close the incredible lead held by the Dutch, now several lengths of clear water. The race for bronze was still on though. Into the last 400m the Dutch continued to look dominant and Romania were starting to put the pressure on Australia for the silver. Absolutely nobody could catch the Netherlands, they became Olympic champions. But wow, what an incredible sprint from Ioana Vrinceanu and Roxana Anghel of Romania – enough to allow them to steal the silver from Australia.

Results: NED, ROU, AUS, USA, LTU, GRE

B-Final

Chile and Spain were the fastest boats off the start. Those two were the top two into the second half when the Irish pair started to make their move and establish overlap with the leading two boats. Spain and Chile were trading places at the front of the field, but the Irish pair, Aifric Keogh and Fiona Murtagh had the highest speed! Nobody could catch Spain’s Aina Cid I Centelles and Esther Briz Zamorano, but it had been an incredible second half from Irish who secured second place, eighth overall.

Lightweight men’s double sculls (LM2x) – Final

Stefano Oppo and Gabriel Soares of Italy  went out fast. Everyone wanted to get in front of Ireland. The Greeks had gone early too. But into the second quarter, here came the defending Olympic Champions from Ireland. It was still an incredible performance from Antonios Papakonstantinou and Petros Gkaidatzis of Greece, who crossed the halfway marker in the lead, but they were now being chased hard by Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan of Ireland. With 500m to go, Ireland had taken the lead and were starting to move away, but the silver medal was still up for grabs between Italy and Greece. What a fantastic performance from McCarthy and O’Donovan to defend their title, ahead of Italy and Greece. Switzerland, the silver medallists from last year’s World Rowing Championships had missed out on the sprint to the line. Absolutely incredible racing.

Results: IRL, ITA, GRE, SUI, NOR, CZE

B-Final

Another B Final where Spain was looking impressive; Denis Carracedo Ferrero and Caetano Horta Pombo were out the front of the field, but what could the French supporters do to lift their crew? Belgium was also going well and started to lift their boat speed coming into the final quarter of the race. Niels van Zandweghe and Tibo Vyvey were attacking hard – they had moved up alongside Belgium and were starting to put pressure on Spain too! It was dream come true for the French supporters as en epic sprint from Hugo Beurey and Ferdinand Ludwig got them to the line first to secure seventh place overall.

Lightweight women’s double sculls (LW2x) – Final

This was last final of the day, and it was bound to be epic. Romania absolutely flew off the start to try and get their bows ahead of the likely favourites from Great Britain. Gianina van Groningen and Ionela Cozmiuc of Romania had the early lead but it was Emily Craig and Imogen Grant that got to the first timing marker, 0.2 second ahead of Romania, and then started to open up more of a lead. Going into the second half, GB continued to extend that lead, but Romania was certainly keeping them honest. The British kicked on during the third quarter and then here came the New Zealanders, Shannon Cox and Jackie Kiddle, putting Romania under pressure for the silver. The British were forced to take the rating up, having to respond to the Romanian sprint. And here came the Greeks! Kiddle and Cox were having to respond. The field was closing. GB had clear water.  It was redemption for Great Britain after the agonising fourth place finish at Tokyo 2020. It was just too much for Cox and Kiddle. Romania took silver and bronze for Greece.

Results: GBR, ROU, GRE, NZL, IRL, USA

B-Final

Could France give their supporters more excitement? Laura Tarantola and Claire Bove were silver medallists at Tokyo 2020 but found themselves in the Final B here in Paris. It was time to see what they could do. It was the French double that led out in the early stages, but the strong Canadian crew of Jill Moffatt and Jennifer Casson were certainly keeping them honest every single stroke, and Poland’s Martyna Radosz and Katarzyna Welna were well in the mix too. Once again, it call came down to the final sprint. Canada had the boat speed, but France had the supporters. They had done it.

With four more 2024 Olympic medals still up for grabs, the final day of racing tomorrow is bound to be thrilling as the single sculls and eights take to the water for the last time. Racing will start at 09:30 CEST with the first medal race 10:18.