Image Credit: World Rowing
The final day at the World Rowing Championships was like no other as, in addition to the single sculls and the PR3 mixed double, today acted as the debut of the mixed double and mixed eights – the newest addition to the programme. This was an entertaining climax for the regatta following a week of brilliant racing in Shanghai. For the final time, this is everything you need to know from Dianshan Lake.
PR3 Mixed Double Sculls
While their initial start was slower than that of their competition, the early leaders were the German double of Valentin Luz and Kathrin Marchand, who stretched to more than two lengths by halfway. Behind them, there was somewhat of a surprise, as the fast-starting Ukrainian crew maintained the silver medal position, around half a length up on the British, with the Australians fading. In the final stages, the German gold was secure, as the duo would annihilate the World Best Time, but the race behind was on. The Ukrainians unleashed their turn of speed early to move away, while the Australians were more patient, moving through the British crew and moving back on the Ukrainians, closing by the finish line to half a length back.
JRN Prediction: GER, GBR, AUS
Result: GER, UKR, AUS
Women’s Single Sculls
With the news of the World Best Time in the previous race, the discussions heading to the start were of a battle between Lauren Henry and the clock. However, there was one sculler determined to upset the party. Going out strong, the Irish Fiona Murtagh jumped out to an early lead, holding open water early on. From behind, Lauren Henry was forced to work through the field, only claiming second place after three minutes of racing. From that point on, she went out in search of the Irish leader. Slowly moving back, the pressure elevated throughout the race when, with 300 metres, the Murtagh began to crack. A few rough strokes allowed Henry to move back through her, but it was not quite enough. Henry came just a few centimetres short, as a photo finish determined the Irishwoman was the winner, denying the British sculler the perfect season. Behind, it was a bronze medal for Frida Sanggard Nielsen, as the Danish won another medal at the World Rowing Championships, six years after she did the same in the four.
JRN Prediction: GBR, IRL, GER
Result: IRL, GBR, DEN
Men’s Single Sculls
What more could we ask for than another race of the championships contender in the final of the men’s single scull? Off the start, the defending world and Olympic champion Olli Zeidler took the race by the scruff of the neck. However, with less training across this season, the dominant athlete was not installable as he had been in the past. Slowly moving back, with 500 metres to go, it was an effective three-way tie as Simon van Dorp and Stefanos Ntouskos clawed back level. In this battle, the two new contenders moved in different directions. Van Dorp fell back, having worked too hard making up the ground, being overhauled by Yauheni Zalaty for the bronze. But the race for gold was ahead, and Ntouskos made the first move, jumping out to a length’s lead, and while the German moved back, he could not claim the gold. This gold medal for the Greek sculler is his first at any World Rowing event, matching his Olympic gold from Tokyo, the last time he raced in Asia.
JRN Prediction: NED, AIN, GER
Result: GRE, GER, AIN
Mixed Double Sculls
The highest-level mixed doubles race ever, the final was a compelling race with plenty of twists and turns. Off the start, heat winners Romania quickly dropped back, but it was Switzerland‘s childhood friends, Cece Dupre and Raphael Ahumada, who were the first major leaders. Rowing with an apparent smile on their face, they lead the field through most of the first 1000 metres, before Ireland hit the front. After setting the fastest time in the heats, the Irish were the favourites, but there was the looming threat of the Dutch crew with their four Olympic medals closely following. In the closing stages, the Dutch sprint did come, but it wasn’t enough as from multiple lengths down, they finished half a length off the lead, while for bronze, the Swiss held off the fast-charging Italian crew in a photo finish.
JRN Prediction: NED, IRL, ROU
Result: IRL, NED, SUI
Mixed Eight
The final race of the championships, the mixed eights provided a thrilling conclusion to the championships. As is often expected, the Romanian crew took the early lead, after setting the fastest time in the morning’s heats by a comfortable margin. Refusing to surrender that lead down the course, they won by more than a length of open water to the race behind. In that race, the New Zealanders were the next-best starters, but the Italiansclaimed second place by the first timing marker, moving together down the course, the margin expanded and contracted, but the stereotypical Italian sprint secured them a half-length margin on the finish line. Behind that, many of the other crews suffered in their third race in 24 hours, as the much-decorated Dutch crew finished in fifth place behind the United States.
JRN Prediction: NED, ROU, USA
Result: ROU, ITA, NZL
