2 September 2024

After two days of racing at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Regatta, it was time for the finals yesterday.

Here are the results from the A-Finals.

PR1 women’s single sculls (PR1 W1x)
After thrilling first heats on Friday in the PR1 women’s single sculls, where Moran Samuel of Israel easily won the first heat and Anna Sheremet of Ukraine won the second heat pushed reigning Paralympic and World Champion Birgit Skarstein of Norway to repechage on Saturday, Samuel won the gold, Skarstein the silver and France’s Nathalie Benoit the bronze.
Results: ISR, NOR, FRA, UKR, KOR, BRA

PR1 men’s single sculls (PR1 M1x)
The reigning Paralympic Champion Roman Polianskyi of Ukraine was looking to make history by taking the gold medal again, but it was Great Britain’s Benjamin Pritchard and Italy’s Giacomo Perini who were in the lead in the initial stage of the race. By the halfway mark, the Brit was in the lead and continued to extend his lead leaving the rest of the field in his wake. Pritchard took the gold with Polianskyi second and Perini third. However, Perini, World Rowing reports, was “found to be using communications equipment during the race, in breach of Rule 28 and Appendix R2, Bye-Law to Rule 28. As a result, the crew [Perini] was excluded from the event and will be ranked last. Italy has decided to appeal the decision. (Update: A mobile phone was found in Perini’s boat. The Italian said it was an oversight and he never used it to communicate.)
Results: GBR, UKR, AUS, ISR, FRA, ITA

PR2 mixed double sculls (PR2 Mix2x)
People’s Republic of China took the early lead, narrowly followed by Great Britain and Israel with France in fourth position. With 500 metres to go, the British double had caught up with the Chinese and Lauren Rowles and Gregg Stevenson moved into the lead and crossed the finish line ahead of the double from China.
Results: GBR, CHN, ISR, UKR, FRA, POL

PR3 mixed double sculls (PR3 Mix2x)
Having tasted victory already in their first heat on Friday, Australia’s Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager were in the lead at the 500 metre-mark followed by Great Britain’s Annie Caddick and Sam Murray with Germany’s Jan Helmich and Hermine Krumbein pressing on from the field. Each time the British crew got closer, the Australians responded. The Australia crew looked to be a clear winner, but it was tough fight for the silver medal between the Brits and the Germans. A photo finish declared Great Britain the silver medallists with Germany taking the bronze.
Results: AUS, GBR, GER, UKR, BRA, FRA

PR3 mixed coxed four (PR3 Mix4+)
In the very last race of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Regatta, Great Britain looked strong, but 250 metres into the race all six crews were within half a length of each other. Halfway Britain had a half a length lead followed by the USA and the home crew in third place. The British four became Paralympics champion with USA taking the silver and France the bronze. Again, Britain had shown their superiority in the boat class keeping the winning streak since 2010.
Results: GBR, USA, FRA, GER, AUS, ITA

This article is based on an article published on World Rowing website on 1 September 2024.