Image Credit: World Rowing
In the world of sport, there is always a narrative brewing. Who is rising, and who is falling. But between training peaks and various factors behind the scenes, there is always some noise obscuring the ultimate truth behind the speed. But once every four years we gather to put all that aside. The peak of the sport is at the Paralympic games, across five events, 114 athletes from 29 countries will compete to assure themselves a spot in the history books and earn themselves the ability to say with all certainty: I am the greatest.
Australia
Ahead of World Rowing Cup III, we wrote that France and Germany blocked Australia’s path to a medal at a major championship and that fact still stands. Under the command of new cox Hannah Cowap, Australia had to settle for fifth behind France and Germany in third and fourth respectively. It’s a little disappointing given they beat the French at last year’s world championships but the margins are ever so close between all three of these nations. Last year, it was Germany ahead of Australia by three seconds and France a further three seconds back, and in Poznan, France were five seconds up on Germany who had just a second advantage over the Australians. Either way you look at it, the race for the bronze medal is set to be electric this weekend.
Brazil
Brazil are heading to Paris via the Final Paralympic Qualification Regatta. They have pulled together a fascinating quintet of rowers and a cox. They’re steered by Jucelino Da Silva who first coxed internationally at the 2000 Nations Cup in Denmark. Da Silva was involved at the Tokyo Paralympics as part of a Brazilian four that placed fourth in the B-Final. While Alina Dumas was fresh to the international circuit earlier this year, Gabriel Mendes De Souza and Priscila Barreto De Souza raced in the PR3 men’s pair and PR3 mixed double sculls respectively at World Rowing Cup II last year. Brazil didn’t take part in World Rowing Cup III this year but given they were 13 seconds slower than Italy who struggled in Poznan, Brazil will most likely race in the B-Final.
China
A sixth-place finish at last year’s world championships was enough to book China a spot in the Paralympics. Cox Li Yu and rower Yinlong Wu both made their international debuts at the world championships in 2011 before placing fourth at the Paralympics a year later. Most recently though, they’ve been joined by Lingtao Jiang, Wanbin Zeng and Xixi Wang to form this crew. We haven’t seen them race at a World Rowing event this year but given China’s pedigree in this event, we should expect to see them in the A-Final.
France
At a home Paralympics, France is the only nation that will have entries in all five of the boat classes. Last year’s fifth-placed finish at the finish was enough to qualify the boat but things are looking better for the French since then. They left the European championships with a silver medal and at the last race before the Paralympics – World Rowing Cup III – they were bronze medalists after the United States came to the party. France and Germany, who we’ll get onto next, are often jostling for positions in this boat class and France will need to come out on top of their neighbours if they are to secure a medal in this event come the weekend.
Germany
Much has already been said about Germany. The crew of Susanne Lackner, Valentin Luz, Marc Lembeck, Kathrin Marchand and cox Inga Thoene are dark horses for a medal this weekend based on their performance this year. However, it certainly isn’t out of the question given they were bronze medalists at last year’s world championships and silver medalists the year before.
Great Britain
Throughout the Olympics and Paralympics, I don’t think there is a more certain gold medal. Of course, in sport nothing is guaranteed, however, Great Britain are on a 14-year winning streak and undefeated since 2010. This crew has two returners from the win in Tokyo. Cox Erin Kennedy and Worcester Rowing Club’s Giedre Rakauskaite are joined by Frankie Allen, Josh O’Brien, and Ed Fuller. Great Britain has won the last three Paralympic titles and are showing no signs of slowing down. In 2024 they won the European championships by 13 seconds and World Rowing Cup III by six seconds. In this boat class, Britannia rules the waves and Paris should be another incredible medal to add to their already weighty treasure chest.
Italy
After only placing seventh at last year’s world championships, Italy had to book their ticket to Paris via the FPQR much like Brazil. However, they comfortably won the event, beating the Brazilians by 13 seconds in the process. While fantastic to qualify, the Italians will have their work cut out to get near the podium. They were bronze medallists in a four-boat field at the European championships and were 15 seconds adrift of bronze medalists, France, at World Rowing Cup III but they could be forgiven for obviously prioritising the FPQR.
South Korea
I don’t expect to see South Korea in the A-Final, chances are they’ll be fighting it out in the B-Final. The Koreans were one of two crews to get an invite from the Bipartite Commission who distributed two fours, a double of each classification and the spare spots that weren’t taken at the various continental qualification regattas. This is a different lineup the Koreans put together at last year’s world championships. Seungho Lee stays in the stroke seat along with Jiin Bae and the highly experienced Hyounjoo Kang, who, despite being 25, has been racing at senior level since 2015. Hakyung Seo will cox this four and Seonwoong Choi joins in the engine room. Korea were fifth, 26 seconds back on Brazil, at the FPQR.
Spain
Spain are the second of the crews to get an invite from the Bipartite Commission. Like the Koreans, they too raced at the FPQR, performing a bit better than their opponents but were still 14 seconds back on the Brazilians. Spain have also raced this year at the European championships where they struggled with the leaders. In the four-boat field, they were fourth, over a minute down on Italy who were the bronze medalists. Like the Koreans, Spain will be fighting it out in the B0Final.
United States of America
The USA have the best chance of knocking Great Britain off the top spot. However, that’s like saying Eton had the best shot of beating St Paul’s back in 2018 – it just wasn’t going to happen. By virtue of their silver medal at World Rowing Cup III this year and at last year’s world championships, the USA are the best of the rest but it would require a very large rabbit to be pulled out of a very small hat if they were to achieve the unthinkable. At World Rowing Cup III, they welcomed Gemma Wollenschlaeger this year in place of Saige Harper. Wollenschlaeger joined from the PR3 mixed double scull which she won a silver medal in at last year’s world championships.
Prediction
Great Britain are dead set for gold in this field. Across the rest of the medals though, I think we’re set for a repeat of Tokyo with the United States taking silver and the French crew in third place.
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