Men’s Pair – Semifinals A/B
Are the Sinkovic brothers back? Their A/B semi-final – which they won – was a good indicator that the great Croatian duo are peaking at just the right time again. Switzerland have had a difficult regatta but begun on the path to redemption by securing the second slot into the A-final on Friday. Behind them, the usual Spanish sprint to the line was not needed as they had the third and final berth in Friday’s showdown already sewn up with 500m to go.Â
After so much noise around the unbeaten British pairing, their semi-final will have been something of a disappointment. They were second, led throughout by Romania, who rowed exceptionally to take the semi-final win. It was clear that the rhythm that GB imbued in the heat was not present in their semi-final as they struggled to get first Ireland then the Romanians. The Irish worked hard to hold off a charging Kiwi pair.Â
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Women’s Pair – Semifinals A/B
If ever the gold medal could be awarded for a semi-final performance, then this first iteration in the women’s pair was worthy of the cause. Such was the distance that the world champions from the Netherlands put into the field that they did not need to use any of their sprinting gears. Tougher tests await in Friday’s final, as these two fine athletes will be well aware. Romania’s remarkably exploits across boat classes continued as their pair secured the second slot into the A-final, slightly in front of the Greeks, who held off a late Danish charge.Â
If the first semi-final was a story of solitary domination, then the second was far more balanced. Heroes of the hour were the USA, who blasted off in Lane Six to lead the race for over 1500m before eventually being reeled in by the Australians, who arrived into this heat as top seeds and likeliest challengers to the indomitable Dutch. Lithuania secured the third slot into Friday’s A-final.Â
Lightweight Men’s Double Scull – Semifinals A/B
A statement row from Ireland in the first semi-final, with a relentless rhythm through the middle 1000m. The Swiss are European champions and world silver medalists but the way in which the Irish rowed them down will place the boys from Skibbereen firmly into the favourites category. Czechia held off a French crew buoyed by home support to close out the entrants into the A-final.Â
Like the women’s pair, the lightweight men’s double semi-finals were almost polar opposites of each other. Italy jumped out to a lead, galvanised by their most recent non-Olympic performance where they won the second World Rowing Cup, but were quickly under pressure from Greece, who clung on the Italian coattails all the way down the course. Behind those two, Norway rowed well to shrug off the Spanish and claim the final slot into Friday’s A-final.Â
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Lightweight Women’s Double Scull – Semifinals A/B
The British are double world champions and the pain of finishing fourth in Tokyo has been the clearest motivational factor for this remarkable crew, who extended their unbeaten run as a pairing by winning their semi-final by clear water. Despite a strong New Zealand second 500m, the British found an extra gear at halfway to stretch elegantly away. The Kiwis will also be playing in the big game on Friday alongside the USA.Â
The Romanians were a second faster than Great Britain to the 1000m marker and three seconds quicker to the finish line, having led this semi-final from the off. Behind them, the battle for second and third was compelling between Greece, Ireland and France. The former worked hard to establish themselves into second before Ireland defied domestic cheers to wrap up third.Â
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Men’s Quadruple Scull – Final A
All hail, the Netherlands. Their superlative sculling style was on full show in the Olympic final as they took out an early lead before, by process of attrition, claimed inch by inch on the field until, with 250m to go, they had nearly a length on the field. Behind them, the Italians partially justified their crew changes with a silver medal ahead of 2022 world champions from Poland. A sensational quad final with a winner justified in every sense; the Dutch were simply too strong, too stylish, too smooth to be undone.Â
Women’s Quadruple Scull – Final A
When you find the phrase ‘every stroke counts’ in future coaching guides and philosophical texts, henceforth the photo underneath will be this Olympic final. Great Britain took a sensational gold in the most dramatic of circumstances, rowing down the Dutch who led them from stroke one to stroke T-one. A stunning race that was perfectly timed by a brilliant crew. The Germans collected bronze in a restorative row for their women’s quad.Â
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