How do you define greatness? A mind-bending feat that surpasses expectation and rationality? A moment of authentic surprise that inverts the weight of pressing odds? Or perhaps an incision in the linear unfurling of your heart?
In sport, we are quick to anoint greatness upon each other. A performance that impresses us is often bestowed the virtue of greatness before it can even truly be understood. It is easy to attach brilliance onto bravery and boldness but sometimes the two should not be conflated. True greatness should combine mastery, magnanimity and more than a hint of magic.
The Olympic Games is our ultimate magic show. A procession of truly elite talent, operating at the pinnacle of their sport and thrust forward into a limelight fostered by four years of relative translucency. These two weeks are stitched into the very fabric of competition, dating back to the lore of Ancient Greece, and have transcended the politics of modern society to become the ultimate marker in sporting excellence. To win Olympic Gold gives you immortality of a rare and timeless specification – your story will be perpetuated forevermore, carried forward by the whispers of generations to come, who too aim to climb those sacred steps and join this club of champions. Emerging over the horizon, this time in the blue and red hue of palatial Paris, we are ready for the very fastest in rowing to be crowned.
Step forward, my friends – The Olympic Games have come.
Germany
This crew have made one change since finishing fourth at the second World Rowing Cup, bringing in former University of Washington athlete Tabea Schendekehl. Germany have a storied history in the women’s quad but look unlikely to replicate the feats of yesteryear despite a few strong performances of late. Their win at the third World Rowing Cup was a profound step in the right direction for a crew that is slowly coming together.
Other results in 2024 include bronzes at the first World Rowing Cup and the European championships, both times behind the Ukraine. Maren Voelz and Leonie Menzel were the women’s double for Germany last season, finishing 14th at the 2023 world championships. An A-final finish would be a great result for this young crew, all of whom are under the age of 28.
Switzerland
With a lot of internal testing, this Swiss quad have finally come together in their confirmed Olympic format. We saw this group race together at the third World Rowing Cup, finishing second behind fierce rivals Germany. An exact replica of this crew – albeit in slightly different seats – finished fourth in the world last September but with the re-emergence of Jeannine Gmelin and the switch from openweight to lightweight of Sofia Meakin, extensive testing was undergone to establish the fastest combination.
If this crew can repeat the feats of 2023, that would be an excellent result in a competitive field. With Sofia on-board, they were fifth at the first two World Rowing Cups and the European championships. They will hope that more time to gel will increase speed and perhaps even give them an outside shot at a medal in a relatively unsettled field.
Ukraine
After bursting onto the scene by winning the first World Rowing Cup by clear water, this Ukraine outfit secured qualification to the Games proper by finishing second at the 2024 World Rowing Final Olympic & Paralympic Qualification Regatta. They were also silver medalists at the European championships and have clearly found speed since finishing eighth overall at the 2023 world championships in September.
With Nataliia Dovgodko – sister of men’s sculler Ivan – on-board, this crew has enough nous to upset the established order. Anastasiya Kozhenkova is a two-times Olympian and former gold medalist in 2012 whilst Daryna Verkhohliad also raced in the quad in Rio. The challenge will be whether they can scale up and down inside of a relatively short space of time, having had to prepare for the Regatta of Death then wind down and back up in time for the Olympics.
United States of America
Another boat who had to showdown at the last-chance saloon Final Olympic & Paralympic Qualification Regatta, the USA have a proud history in women’s rowing. Traditionally, they’ve been stronger on the sweep side but 2024 looks like bucking that trend with really proficient women’s doubles and this emerging quad.
They have only raced once this season – winning the aforementioned Regatta of Death – and make one change for the crew who finished 11th at the 2023 world championships, bringing in Teal Cohen.
Cohen is a former U23 world champion in the eight and placed 12th at the 2022 world championships in the women’s four. Her adaption to sculling may be critical for this quad’s success.
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