The golden days might still lie ahead in more than one context, but Great Britain’s ambition to dominate the waterways once again is gaining clear momentum. Rowing proved to be a disappointment in Tokyo three years ago, yet this year’s crew made a strong opening at a rain-soaked facility in Vaires-sur-Marne. Despite the audience huddling under umbrellas for the duration of the four-hour event, their enthusiasm for the inaugural day was palpable.
It was the women’s quadruple sculls team, competing in the final heat of the day, that hinted at a return to the period when Olympic medals were routinely claimed. Georgie Brayshaw, Hannah Scott, Lola Anderson, and Lauren Henry boast world and European titles, but unexpected challenges can arise as the competition intensifies and glory is within reach.
They outpaced a strong-finishing German crew by three-quarters of a length after taking the lead 500 metres into the 2km race, and they will enter Wednesday’s final as significant favorites. The Netherlands, who managed to overcome a late surge from Ukraine to win their first heat, look poised to challenge them.
“It’s really exciting, and we’re pleased to get that first race out of the way with a win,” Henry shared. “We’ll concentrate on gearing up as best as we can for the final. That’s where the main event is, and the race we’ve been preparing for all this time.”
Though the rain was an inconvenience, it did little to diminish the positivity surrounding a course that received high marks from both competitors and team management. “No complaints,” remarked Matt Haywood, whose men’s quadruple sculls crew finished second in their heat and is looking forward to their own contest in four days. “It’s a fantastic venue with a quick, warm lake.”
Despite the heavy rains in Paris over the last 18 hours, causing some areas near the banks to become waterlogged, the course itself remained clear and relatively tranquil. The layout and facilities at France’s national nautical stadium have been well received by the British team, and the start of the competition was characterized by its smooth execution. Great Britain is accustomed to training in wet conditions, and Haywood noted that they had prepared for the Games at altitude, under varying conditions, in Austria.
There was satisfaction, too, with Haywood and his teammates Tom Barras, Callum Dixon, and Graeme Thomas compensating well. Although they couldn’t catch the Netherlands boat, which appears formidable based on today’s performance, their spirited second half brought them within a length and a quarter of the leaders.
“The Dutch are always strong,” Haywood acknowledged regarding the reigning world and Olympic champions, who narrowly defeated Great Britain in Tokyo. “We definitely believe we can get much closer to them. Our goal is to beat them, and I think we can achieve that. We have aspects to improve in the first ‘K’, but we want to sustain that stronger second ‘K’.”
Becky Wilde and Mathilda Hodgkins Byrne, the first British pair on the water, missed first place to New Zealand in the women’s double sculls. However, their performance was encouraging, as they led until approximately 120 meters from the end.
after newsletter promotion
This positions them for a semi-final on Tuesday and they could be considered among the contenders for medals, although a powerful Romanian boat featuring Ancuta Bodnar and Simona Radis sailed through their heat with a commanding six-and-a-half second lead over the second-place finisher and will be tough competition for the gold. “The results from all three heats are really all over the place, so I honestly can’t predict who will make it to the final,” Hodgkins Byrne reflected.
During a mid-morning break between rain showers, the women’s singles sculls world champion, Karolien Florijn from the Netherlands, easily progressed through her heat. The third heat featured a repeat of the Tokyo 2020 final, where New Zealander Emma Twigg outlasted Anna Prakaten, though the latter’s participation may raise some questions.
Prakaten, born in Belarus, represented Russia when she secured her silver medal in Japan. She has since switched her nationality to Uzbekistan due to the sanctions imposed on Russian athletes following their invasion of Ukraine, a change only approved by the IOC a week ago.
Helen Glover’s return to Olympic competition in the women’s fours heats will be among the anticipated highlights of a busy Sunday schedule. The weather forecast looks much brighter, and Team GB’s hopes of washing away the memories of Tokyo also seem promising.
