Final spots for the Olympics determined on the Rotsee

In a race to finish all racing before the weather shifted, the Finals got underway just moments after the Semifinals in Lucerne. It was the last chance for crews to claim a ticket to Tokyo and the racing was hot.

Women’s Pair (W2-) – Final

Russia came into today’s final with the best time and they looked to be meeting the expectations, going out hard and leading at 500m. Chile, Croatia and Denmark all used the strategy: go out fast and see how long they could maintain it. No doubt that Denmark’s experienced crew of Olympic medallists would put down a good race through the middle thousand. Into the final sprint and Denmark was not content to let Russia have the win. Those two crews going stroke-for-stroke to the line. Chile desperately trying to get back into contention, but the speed was just too hot. Russia and Denmark claimed the top two places and the qualification places to Tokyo – pending confirmation.

Finishing places: Russia, Denmark, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Netherlands

Women’s double sculls (W2x) – Final

There were three crews fighting for the top two spots in the women’s double sculls: Russia, Germany and Great Britain. The British came into the event with their young line-up that recently finished 3^rd at the European Rowing Championships. But Germany led at the 500m mark, with Russia charging hard and Great Britain slightly off the pace. Russia led through the middle of the race, but then Germany put on a sprint to overtake them. This fight at the front of the field pulled them farther away from Great Britain, who seemed to lose steam in the final stages of the race. Across the line, Russia was just ahead of Germany, but both crews claim those all-important tickets to Tokyo.

Finishing places: Russia, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Nigeria

Ekaterina Pitirimova, Russia : “I am so tired now but super happy cause this is just what we’ve thought.”

Annekatrin Thiele, Germany : “It was fantastic. We did our best on the lake and now we have the ticket to Tokyo.”

Women’s four (W4-) – Final

Ireland placed first in their heat to claim the middle lane here and they were ready to repeat that performance in today’s Final. They got off to a cracking start and led the way down the field in an absolutely dominant performance. Behind them China and Italy were going for it to try to get the second spot. Italy tried to bring the rate up, but the boat speed did not follow. China, looking calm and collected opened up clear water back to the Italians. Across the line, a huge celebration from Ireland as they claim the top spot to Tokyo. China held on ahead of Italy.

Finishing places: Ireland, China, Italy, Russia, Ukraine, Czech Republic

Eimear Lambe, Ireland : “We’re absolutely relieved. It’s been a long time coming. Although on paper we were probably one of the favourites, anything can happen on the water. We are so happy.”

Fei Wang, China “This is an excellent result for our crew giving our line-up just was built in less than one month. Now we are heading to Tokyo and we are expecting more, ideally a medal.”

Women’s single sculls (W1x) – Final

It was a blistering race in the women’s single sculls. Four boats went across the 1000m mark in a line as they were vying for just two places. But then Anneta Kyridou of Greece decided this was her time. Kyridou was looking set to qualify from the European Continental Qualification Regatta, when she flipped at the startline. This is a fantastic comeback from the talented young Greek sculler. In the third 500m, she took open water back to the rest of the field, leaving them to fight for the second qualification spot. Making the best of the rest of it was Belarus’ Tatsiana Klimovich who just got the better of Japan’s Shiho Yonekawa and Ukraine’s Diana Dymchenko.

Finishing places: Greece, Belarus, Japan, Ukraine, Finland, Germany 

Anneta Kyridou, Greece : “I am very excited. I was very unlikely at the previous races but I have worked very hard with our coaches and I had a lot of people supporting me.”

Tatsiana Klimovich, Belarus : “I am so happy. Two years ago I was still a double sculls rower and haven’t been on the water for a very long time, but now I qualified for the Tokyo2020!”

Women’s quadruple sculls (W4x) – Final  

Just four boats were contesting this race and there were just two places to Tokyo. On paper, the Australians looked really good and they went off the startline in style. Crossing 500m they already had almost two seconds advantage to France. The French, who have tested their lineup throughout the season, seemed to have settled on the fastest combination. Through the middle section of the race Australia did enough to maintain their lead, but the fight behind them heated up. Norway made a huge push in the third quarter of the race to try to get back on France. But the French responded, they took up their rate and the boatspeed went with it. Into the final strokes of the race, Australia maintained their lead, while France successfully shook off the Norwegian charge.

Finishing places: Australia, France, Norway, Ukraine

Caitlin Cronin, Australia : “We knew we had a really good chance. It was about executing our plan, doing all the small things rights right that we do in training. We are looking forward to moving forward to the Olympics. Onwards and upwards!

Emma Lunati, France : “It was not an easy way to qualify for the Tokyo here cause we have to keep racing again and again. I am really proud of what we’ve done.”

Men’s quadruple sculls (M4x) – Final

Russia finished eight with this line-up at the 2020 European Rowing Championships and they were here in Lucerne trying to qualify for the Olympic Games. They had the best start and went through 500m in the lead. Behind them was Estonia, Lithuania and Romania. Russia maintained their lead for the first half, but then Kaspaar Taimsoo of Estonia took up the stroke rate in his boat and the Estonians started to move back on the Russian lead. The Estonian charge moved them farther away from the third-placed Lithuanian crew. Into the final sprint, Estonia turned on the power and managed to just slip past Russia across the line.

Finishing places: Estonia, Russia, Lithuania, Romania, Czech Republic, France

Uri-Mikk Udam, Estonia : “I am feeling absolutely blasted. We had a very good race. We knew Russia would go out fast. The second thousand we knew we had to push hard. It was really really hard. In the last 300m we did our final sprint. We are really happy to show our form.”

Nikita Morgachev, Russia : “There is always a chance to get an Olympic spot which is really important for us. I was a little bit nervous today, I was worried about the competition, but finally we are very happy with the result.”

Women’s eight (W8+) – Final

Coming into this regatta, the question was: how fast is China? The Chinese put together a new line-up and had the 2020 year to train. The preliminary race for lanes showed the Chinese speed as they had clear water ahead of Romania. China went off hard again and established an early lead. Romania tried to stay with them, while the rest of the field started dropping back. At the halfway point, Romania turned on the steam to try to move back on the Chinese effort. China responded. These two crews pulled even farther away from the charging Germans and Dutch. Across the finish line, China had done enough to ensure the win, while Romania took the second qualification spot.

Finishing places: China, Romania, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia

Linlin Guo, China : “We really worked as a team, qualifying for the Games as the No.1 in this regatta makes us more confident now. We will definitely expect more in Tokyo. Thanks to my teammates!”

Amalia Beres, Romania : “We wanted to be first, but we will race them again in Tokyo and we are looking forward to it.”

Men’s eight (M8+) – Final

New Zealand only sent one crew to Lucerne and they had one goal: qualify. The Kiwis put their top athletes into this boat in attempt to get one more ticket to Tokyo. And they went through the first 500m in the lead. But it wasn’t going to be easy for them. Romania has been building their young men’s eight and posting top results so far this season. At the halfway point these two crews shook off the Chinese and the Italians and moved into a league of their own. The Kiwis tried in their typical style to take ground away from Romania in the third quarter, but the Romanians shifted to 45 strokes a minute and went with them. At an absolutely fiery pace, New Zealand and Romania crossed the line and secured a spot for Tokyo.

Finishing places: New Zealand, Romania, Italy, China

Matt Macdonald, New Zealand : “It was a good race. It was quite a hot pace to start with – everyone was willing to throw everything at it. I feel like we managed to execute our race well.”

Sergiu-Vasile Bejan, Romania : “The race was hard but we knew it should be like this. We are happy with qualifying our boat and now we will turn to the training. The Olympic medal? That will be a gift.”

Men’s pair (M2-) – Final

These crews were the first to face the challenging schedule of Semifinals and Finals in the same morning. But as top athletes, they are used to challenges and it was the Dutch and the Danish making the best of it. Denmark crossed the 500m mark in the lead, but the question was, could they hold it? The Dutch were rowing patiently behind them, followed by Great Britain and the United States. Into the third quarter of the race the positions remained unchanged – it would come down to the sprint. Denmark looked on fire as they crossed into the red buoys. Then came the sprint from the Netherlands, Denmark faded slightly. Across the line, the Dutch just 0.07 seconds ahead of Denmark. But both crews grabbed a spot for Tokyo, with the United States and Great Britain missing out.

Finishing places: Netherlands, Denmark, United States, Great Britain, Germany, Poland

Nicolas Van Sprang, Netherlands : “I am so happy that we managed to qualify. It was a tough morning with two races. It was the most important race of my life and we are so happy.”

Men’s double sculls (M2x) – Final

The water on the Rotsee remained flat with wind-still conditions as the Final races continued with the men’s double sculls. The Czech Republic looked the best coming out of this morning’s Semifinal and they were the first to take a lead in the Final. But thing started to shift as the crews approached the halfway point. Russia put in their charge and pushed back the Czech Republic. Australia and Spain were sitting in the third and fourth positions and trying to get back into a qualification spot. Into the final sprint, Russia and the Czech Republic looked powerful and calm as they were able to fend off the Australian charge. Across the line, Russia just ahead of the Czech Republic.

Finishing places: Russia, Czech Republic, Australia, Spain, Serbia, Italy

Andrey Potapkin, Russia : “It was a good result for us. It was very good experience at high level. We have a new coaching team since November and we are very grateful for their support.”

Jakub Podrazil, Czech Republic : “We had a good start, we were the 1st in the first half, then Russia pushed harder and we were trying to go with them. We were happy to hold the 2nd place to qualify for the Games. It will be my 3rd Olympic Games and the 1st for my teammate Jan Cincibuch.

Men’s four (M4-) – Final

After the Semifinals, it was clear that the men’s four would be a cracking race and it definitely was not disappointing. South Africa came to Lucerne with their new-look crew and they seemed to be in good form. Canada boated a new line-up with Olympic silver medallist Will Crothers in the stroke seat. France used the same strategy, putting Olympic silver medallist Dorian Mortelette in the stroke seat. South Africa took the early lead, with Canada and France behind. Canada decided to rate 40 strokes a minute down the entire course to try to catch the speedy South Africans. The race was decided in the third quarter when Canada did not let up and France faltered slightly – it was enough. Into the final sprint, France could not make up the deficit. South Africa and Canada took the two qualification places.

Finishing places: South Africa, Canada, France, Austria, Belarus, Ukraine

Kyle Schoonbee, South Africa : “A lot of pressure, we’ve spent lots of time on the repeated training. It was a good race all way through. Obviously, we going to Tokyo for one reason – that’s to win, so in the next two months I will be all in that.”

Luke Gadsdon, Canada :”Our heat gave us a good idea where we were, lots of nerves, lots of adrenaline. We’ve done lots of race series back home against the women’s eight, which was good preparation for us.”

Men’s single sculls (M1x) – Final

Looking at this morning’s Semifinals it was looking like a done-deal for Poland’s Natan Wegrzycki-Szymczyk. But in the small boats, anything can happen. Off the start it was Russia’s Alexander Vyazovkin who made the best of it. Poland went with him and Canada’s Trevor Jones was left behind. But it was the middle of the race that would decide the places. Vyazovkin stretched out to a lead, leaving Wegrzycki-Szymczyk and Jones to fight it out for the second position. Crossing into the final stages, Jones had the slight advantage and he looked so strong. Sitting up tall and just grabbing a bit more water with ever stroke than Wegrzycki-Szymczyk, Jones approached the finish line. He had done it. Across the line Russia and Canada took the two qualification spots.

Finishing places: Russia, Canada, Poland, Belarus, Bulgaria, Romania

Trevor Jones, Canada : “It was interesting having only two hours between the semi and the final. Yesterday’s heat was good to get the jitters out. I’ve put in lots of miles this winter, and I’m really relying on that”

Lightweight women’s double sculls (LW2x) – Final

The lightweight scullers always bring fantastic racing and what a race this was. The United States, Ireland, China and Switzerland going stroke-for-stroke. The United States was the first crew to show their colours as they approached the first timing mark. But Ireland was right with them. Switzerland and China were just slightly behind. Through the middle of the race, the Irish had a fantastic showing, staying right with the Americans, while China and Switzerland were fighting for the third position. But in the third quarter, Switzerland made their move. After missing qualification in 2015, 2016 and 2019, the Swiss were desperate to claim a spot to Tokyo – and they showed it. They came storming through the Chinese and the Irish and started moving on the United States. Across the line, the United States held the top spot, followed by Switzerland and Ireland, while China faded and finished fourth.

Finishing places: United States, Switzerland, Ireland, China, Poland, Australia

Aoife Casey, Ireland : “It’s so surreal because I feel like we’ve worked so hard the past two to three years. We came in as underdogs. It just shows what you can do. We came from behind and all we wanted to do was do our best and we are so happy.”

Lightweight men’s double sculls (LM2x) – Final

As the last race of the day got underway, the skies opened up and rain unleashed itself over the Rotsee. But it did not stop the speed of the Chinese crew in the lightweight men’s double sculls. China’s strategy seemed to be go fast and try to hold on to it, but could they do it? Canada was putting their move in through the middle of the race. Into the final 500m and the Czech Republic was sprinting! Could they move past the Chinese? Yes. But nothing could catch the Canadians. Across the line, Canada and Czech Republic secured the two qualification spots.

Finishing places: Canada, Czech Republic, China, France, Australia, Switzerland

Max Lattimer, Canada : “At the beginning, we were a good chunk back, but we were just confident in our training and execution: In lightweight rowing, the leader of the race changes a lot but the fastest boats will always come out on top. What a thrill!”

Jiri Simanek, Czech Republic : “A tough race, we lost maybe more than a half to Chinese but I believed that the Chinese will be exhausted at the end before the last 150 and then we will make it.