Great Britain (Bronze)
Great Britain will probably be the first to admit that they have struggled to find a competitive eight since taking silver at the Rio Olympics. During the Tokyo Olympiad, their best result at the world championships was fifth in 2017. However, in the last couple of seasons, the British having been quietly putting together a crew that can regularly challenge for the podium. In 2023, they just missed out on a medal at the world championships, having won silver at the Europeans and taken medals (including a gold) at both the second and third World Rowing Cups. The crew includes four athletes with Olympic experience; McKellar and Taylor from the fourth-placed coxless four and Ford as the sole remaining member of the eight that finished last. Also in the boat is Henry Fieldman, who coxed the GB men’s eight to bronze in Tokyo. It’s worth noting that should GB win a medal in Paris, Fieldman will make history as the first athlete to win an Olympic medal in a men’s and women’s event. This season the British have shown impressive speed. They took silver at the opening World Rowing Cup behind the Italians, although that defeat was put down to the fact that they had doubled-up in the four earlier in the day. At the Europeans, they earned silver behind Romania, and then at the Lucerne World Rowing Cup, they won their third silver of the year just behind the Canadians. I think the British stand a really good chance of winning only their second-ever Olympic women’s eight medal, and although I’ve got them as bronze medallists the colour could well be something a little brighter.
Romania (Silver)
Romania last won the Olympic women’s eight title back in 2004 (which was their third in a row) and they are the only country to have competed in this boat class at every Olympics (including LA84 when the rest of the Eastern Bloc boycotted the Games). Their assault on Paris includes six athletes with Olympic experience, including Tokyo women’s double gold medallist Simona Radis. Romania have won the world championships for the last two seasons, although for 2024 only five of that crew return (the Beres sisters, Anghel, Adam and coxswain Petreneau). These five, along with Radis, raced at the European championships (with Maria Lehaci, Maria Rusu and Ioana Vrinceneau) winning the gold medal (Romania’s eighth consecutive European women’s eight title and their 16th since 2007). The Romanian’s also raced the eight at the opening World Rowing Cup, although that crew had only three of the line-up for Paris (Juncanariu, Buhus & Popa), and they finished third. With the Romanians not having raced in their final line-up yet, their form will be tricky to assess. With Radis focusing on the eight rather than the double, in which she is Olympic and world Champion, it suggests they are prioritising this boat and looking for their third Olympic title. My money will still be on the Canadians to have the edge though.
Canada (Gold)
Canada are the reigning Olympic Champions and their crew for Paris includes four members of that gold medal-winning boat. They also have Olympic experience with Sevick from the double and bronze medal pairs rower Filmer. The crew is a good mix of youth and experience. Alongside the Olympic athletes, the Canadians have selected 22-year-old Abigail Dent for the all-important stroke seat – she made her senior debut last season racing in the coxless four at the third World Rowing Cup. Another youngster in the boat is 23-year-old Maya Meschkuleit – she made her senior debut at the final World Rowing Cup of the 2022 season and in 2023 raced at both the U23 and senior world championships. This season, Canada have made one appearance, winning the second World Rowing Cup although they’ve made one change to that crew, with the experienced Wasteneys coming into the boat to replace Kristen Siermachesky.
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