2 August 2024

By Tim Koch

Tim Koch posts a media release from World Rowing summarising the seventh day of the 2024 Olympic Regatta.

For immediate release, Paris, Friday, 2 August 

The third day of medal finals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Regatta saw two titles be defended, Dutch domination and British redemption.

Ahead of the medal finals, the French supporters in the packed grandstands were treated when their rowers won the B-Final of both the lightweight men’s and lightweight women’s double sculls, securing seventh place overall. The focus then moved to the medal races.

The final of the men’s pair featured the reigning Olympic Champions (Croatia), and the reigning World Champions (Switzerland). It was Great Britain that led for nearly all of the race except the critical last few strokes where Croatia’s Martin and Valent Sinkovic got their bowball ahead and crossed the finish line 0.45 seconds ahead of Great Britain, to defend their Olympic title and become the most decorated Croatian summer Olympians. Switzerland took the bronze. 

There was then an absolutely dominating performance from the Dutch women’s pair of Ymkje Clevering and Veronique Meester, who led from the start and crossed the finish line with clear water ahead of Romania and Australia.

Ireland’s Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan were back to defend their Olympic title in the lightweight men’s double sculls and, despite a slow start, and only sitting in third place 500m into the race, the Irish overhauled Greece and then Italy in the closing stages, who took respectively bronze and silver.

In the last race of the day, there was redemption for Great Britain’s Emily Craig and Imogen Grant in the lightweight women’s double sculls. Since missing out on a medal by 0.01 seconds at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games regatta, they have been unbeaten. And they were unbeaten again today. Craig and Grant got out ahead and maintained the lead throughout, finishing 1.72 seconds ahead of Romania, who claimed the silver, with Greece taking the bronze.

The last four sets of medals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games regatta will be awarded tomorrow with the men’s and women’s A Finals of both the single sculls and the eights.

In both the single sculls events, we will see the defending Olympic Champions go up against the reigning World Champions, with Germany’s Olli Zeidler looking to make amends after a disappointing 7th place at Tokyo 2020.

Romania posted the fastest time in the heats of the women’s eight and perhaps come in as favourites, but are likely to face competition from Great Britain, who won the other heat, the USA, who won the repechage, and Canada, who are defending Olympic Champions.

The regatta will conclude with the men’s eight, which will also see USA and Great Britain go against each other as winners of their respective heats.

The final day of rowing in Paris will start at 09:30 CET with the first medal final at 11:10 CET. For the full Saturday start list, click here. 

Race reports, results and photos are on www.worldrowing.com.

Live updates are on World Rowing’s social media channels:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/WorldRowing
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/worldrowingofficial/
X – https://x.com/WorldRowing

British Rowing’s take on Team GB’s Friday performance is on their website.

The fourteen-event Olympic Regatta runs 27 July – 3 August. The five-event Paralympic Regatta runs 30 August – 1 September.