What a difference a day makes. Freed from yesterday’s damp and dreary weather, the Olympic Regatta glistened beneath bright blue, cloudless skies. Conditions on the water were hot, with a direct headwind from midmorning which prolonged the athletes’ efforts.

Today spectators got their first peek at the pairs, lightweight doubles and fours. France continued to thrive on home water – their athletes cheered on by vociferous, tricolour-waving crowds. On the other end of the spectrum two doubles were eliminated. The Lithuanian women and Italian men’s doubles dropped out after treacherous reps.

The Romanian rowers remained true to form conjuring classy sprint finishes, their LW2x was especially strong and did not need and enormous wind. There were a handful of photo-finishes sprinkled in for good measure across the board, most notably in the men’s pairs which saw a four-way fight to the line, similarly the 0.01s margin between Ireland and Czechia in the women’s pair.

Meester Class W2-

No big surprises in the women’s pairs. In their Olympic opener, the highly-favoured Dutch duo of Ymkje Clevering and Veronique Meester continued their winning ways. The Lucerne gold-medallists finished two lengths clear of Lithuania and USA, who dispatched Denmark and New Zealand.

“The wind picked up before our race so it was a long race, we could enjoy it for a long time! This crowd is amazing. We’ve never experienced anything like this so that was cool. The execution [of our race] was as we planned. The competition is on!” Clevering said.  

But the Dutch weren’t the fastest women’s pair on the water. Australia’s Olympic W4- champions Jessica Morrison and Annabelle McIntyre clocked the fastest W2- time today, and are prime medal contenders who are keen to finish what they started in Tokyo.

“All boat classes have gotten faster, and in particular the women’s pair. I can think off the top of my head four or five different boats who are going to be really hard to beat this year. It’s exciting,” said McIntyre. “Historically we’ve been kicked out of the A-final through a semifinal, so for us it is really important to get out there and race as fast as possible to get a winning a position.” Her teammate added: “I think it is important in rowing to get the favourable lanes should they redraw them because of conditions.”

Romania’s reigning European champions Roxana Anghel and Ioana Vrinceanu, who are doubling up in the women’s eight, delivered a dominant performance in the second heat of the women’s pair, leading from start to finish. Behind them Great Britain pressured Ireland, desperate to avoid tomorrow’s rep, but their strong second half wasn’t quite enough to overhaul a determined effort from Tokyo W4- bronze medallists Aifric Keogh and Fiona Murtagh (IRL), who squeezed past Czechia by 0.01s on the line.

Swiss Mistiming M2-

The Swiss world champions were outflanked in the men’s pairs. Rectifying their lacklustre start, Ireland initiated a bunfight with their late-charge to the line. A four-way fight ensued: Spain snuck the win, with New Zealand and Ireland securing the two semi spots. There was less than 0.5s between all four crews, and just 0.02s between third and fourth.

“We knew it was going to be tight race. No one is slow at the Olympics,” said Roman Röösli (SUI). “We stuck to our plan and it almost worked. But it gives us a chance to turn the little wheels [make small improvements],” said Andrin Gulich (SUI).

Favourites Great Britain did nothing to dent British hopes. They cruised into the lead in the third heat, their winning time was 1.6s slower than the Spanish but with less drama. “We could probably be a bit sharper out of the blocks. For us, we want to be dominant at every point in the race and we probably didn’t do that today out of the blocks,” said bowman Ollie Wynne-Griffith (GBR).

Italy made life easier for the frontrunners in the second heat by dropping off the pace in the third quarter. Croatia’s legendary Sinkovics won that one in style ahead of Romania and Lithuania.

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Beginning of the end LW2x LM2x

The racing schedule afforded back to back British wins as lightweights Imogen Grant and Emily Craig (GBR) followed the men’s pair. It was another clinical display from Dr Grant, sculling seamlessly and with ruthless efficiency. They extended their unbeaten run (in this line-up) since finishing fourth at Tokyo.

“Our coach Darren [Whiter] said to us this morning, go out and enjoy it. I think whenever he says that, we often turn around and go, ‘well we’re going to do a bloody good job first, and then enjoy it afterwards.’” Grant said. “That’s about where we are. I was enjoying it. I was enjoying moving out on the other crews.”

The Greeks secured second place. “Our performance was quite good. It was quite a good day and I’m happy to have qualified and today’s job is done,” said Dimitra Kontou. “We will stay focused for our next race,” said Zoe Fitsiou (GRE).

It was all business in the tougher, tighter second heat. The high-rating Romanians secured the win and laid down a strong statement of intent. Fears that Ionela Livia Cozmiuc’s Opening Ceremony flag bearing duties might have been an energy-drain fell flat. Romania finished 0.5s quicker than the British heat one winners. Game on.  

Saving the best until last. The French crowd, still high on last night’s rugby sevens magic and skipper Antoine Dupont’s Midas touch, roared their Tokyo Olympic silver medallists home in a battle royale against New Zealand. Laura Tarantola and Claire Bove (FRA) who qualified via the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta finished second to the Kiwis. Both crews made it to the semis with medal hopes intact.

“We are first time Olympians so to come down a course which is that loud is unreal! Especially racing a French crew. That’s what the Olympics is all about,” said Jackie Kiddle (NZL). “It’s a great benchmark. We turned up expecting a dog fight and we got one.”

“We’re chuffed to cross the line first but it doesn’t mean anything. It’s a clean the slate for the semi,” continued Kiddle, before quoting New Zealand swimmer Clareburt Lewis. “If you’ve got a lane, you’ve got a chance.”

Next up were the men. Step forth Skibbereen’s finest. A freshly shorn Paul O’Donovan and his partner Fintan McCarthy (IRL) delivered a confident win in their LM2x heat. McCarthy signed off with a handshake and a wave, the former with O’Donovan and the latter to the green-clad Irish contingent celebrating in the stands.

“We planned to have a good race and that’s what happened. So I can’t complain,” said McCarthy, keeping things simple. “There was a headwind for sure in that race but when we are out training there seems to be a headwind in every direction,” O’Donovan added, laughing. “We are used to it and we like those kinds of conditions.”

Fashion sense was the only thing not in sync between the Swiss scullers, Jan Schaeuble and Raphael Ahumada. Schaeuble opting for the cap back style while his strokeman’s pointed forward, just like his gaze at the start. It worked. A comfortable clear water win in their first run down the Olympic track. Behind them Spain held France at bay, despite the noisy support. Czechia made life tricky in the third 500 for European silver medallists Stefano Oppo and Gabriel Soares (ITA). The Azzurri, who were unbeaten through the world cups this season, nudged on. They rallied well to secure the top spot.

Chasing gold and glory W4-

Can Helen Glover reclaim her golden status? Her fourth Olympic campaign got off on the right note, and a titanic-effort was not even needed. (Another flagbearer who showed no signs of weariness.) The British W4- poked their bow ball in front by the second 500m. Behind them New Zealand did enough to hold out China for the last spot directly into the final.

“It’s got to be said I’m pulled down the track by the three amazing women. I would not be here without them,” said Glover. “We’ve had a better year in terms of consistency. We’ve played the long game.” On her role as flag bearer the two-time Olympic champion said: “I almost walk a little bit taller and feel a little bit prouder. [It’s something] I did not know, expect, or predict. It’s one of the very few things that’s thrown at you and is not a negative. It’s actually a positive surprise.”

The second W4- heat looked to be all but stitched-up as the Netherlands and Romania sauntered to the line but strokewoman Amalia Beres (ROU) could not resist a dig. She hoicked the rate skywards for twenty-odd strokes. The Dutch defended their lead and the order remained unchanged. Australia and Ireland, both Tokyo Olympic medallists albeit with new line-ups, were forced to take the rep route.

Stars and Stripes M4-

New Zealand’s men’s four delivered an assured performance in the penultimate race of the day. The British quartet maintained overlap, just, but were unable to make significant inroads with the sprint to the line.

Jürgen Grobler devotees were left hurting after the late-charging French crew were unable to pull through the Australians in the final heat. The Americans, who were nearest to the deafening French crowd, led the Aussies and marched to victory and a place in the A-final.

“We know Australia have had a lot of success in the men’s four in the past, so I don’t think anyone is flying under the radar in this field at the moment. We’ve got a really strong fours field. We will take every day as it comes,” said Olympic champion Alex Hill (AUS).

“We were pretty under control and we’ve got somewhere to step on to for the finals,” said Fergus Hamilton (AUS). “The personality of our crew comes across as pretty calm because that’s who we are, but we are also racers. We want to show everyone what we are capable of.”

Ruthless Reps W2x M2x

Gut-wrenching stuff in the women’s double sculls reps. Four top doubles fighting for survival in a race not to come last. Rio 2016 medallist Donata Karaliene and her partner Dovile Rimkute (LTU), who won silver at the 2024 European champions, were eliminated. An early exit from the Games having been outgunned by the Netherlands, Norway and Italy. The Norwegians edging the tight battle for second.

On the men’s side it was Italy that missed out in a race scruffed by the Serbians. Germany’s men’s double closed the gap to the race leaders in the third quarter but settled for second and cruised to the finish ahead of China in third.

National Best Rankings W1x M1x

Distant dreams of duking it out in the medal races were dashed for those who finished outside of the top two quarterfinal qualification spots in this morning’s single sculls repechages.

Adriana Sanguineti (PER) safely made it through to the quarterfinals. Her performance guarantees a top 24 finish which beats the previous Peru best of 31^st in this boat class. Likewise for Javier Insfran of Paraguay whose total effort to make it out of the first rep of the men’s singles, caused him to capsize after the finish.

Hin Chun Chiu, who is Hong Kong’s first ever world cup medallist, rowed down Bermuda’s two time Olympian Dara Alizadeh in a tight tussle to the line for the final spot to the quarters.

“At every check point I was doing what I wanted: I’m in a position to do what I want and get this done. I’ve been there before and close. To get to this level you have to go through that a lot. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t. Credit to Hong Kong and Algeria,” said Alizadeh who is unsure as to his rowing future beyond Paris.

“I can’t look back and say I would have done anything different in that race.”

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