Olympic countdown – women’s single sculls

To date, only one female sculler has won two Olympic gold medals in the women’s single: Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus. The Belarusian became an Olympic Champion at Atlanta 1996 and repeated her performance at Sydney 2000. A further two Olympic medals won in 2004 (silver) and 2008 (bronze) make her the most medalled Olympic female single sculler overall.

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Now at 44 years of age, Karsten is still pursuing her career in the single. In Rio 2016 she will mark an exceptional seventh Olympic participation – six of them in the single.

Karsten’s primary rival, Rumyana Neykova of Bulgaria, is the second most medalled female sculler in the single at the Olympic level. Neykova won the Olympic title in 2008, preceded by Olympic silver in 2000 and bronze in 2004. The World Best Time that she set at the 2002 World Rowing Championships still stands today: 7:07.71.

In the lead up to Rio, the leaders in the field have changed. Australia’s Kim Brennan (nee Crow) has not missed a podium since winning Olympic bronze at London 2012. Brennan claimed World Championship gold twice in this Olympic cycle – in 2013 and last year in 2015. Her bronze medal in London was the first Olympic medal ever won for Australia in this boat class.

New Zealand’s Emma Twigg has been on the rise since 2010, the year in which she won her first World Championship medal. After winning the world title in 2014, she took a break from international rowing and has now returned to competition in preparation for Rio. She will be aiming to win New Zealand’s first ever Olympic medal in this event.

The reigning Olympic Champion Mirka Knapkova from the Czech Republic did not win a World Championship in this Olympic cycle, but has remained a regular medal contender. She is quite possibly keeping her best in store for Rio in the hope of adding a second medal to the Czech Republic’s Olympic medal standing in this event.

All-time dream crew in the women’s single sculls

By Martin Cross

Using more than a century of modern rowing, Martin Cross looks at the sport’s legendary performers and plays selector. This is his pick.

Elisabeta Lipa (ROU)
It’s no surprise that the world’s most successful ever-female rower would be guaranteed an automatic seat in this team. The Romanian’s Olympic medal count standing at five gold, two silver and one bronze medal – spread out over four different boat classes and over a remarkable six Olympics may never be bettered. But of all those medals, it was her 1992 singles victory over Belgium’s Annalise Bredal and Canada’s Silken Laumann that will stand out.

Videos & Statistics

London 2012 Olympic Games 

2015 World Rowing Championships 

2014 World Rowing Championships 

2013 World Rowing Championships 

World Best Times – Historical Evolution (W1x)

Olympic Best Times – Historical Evolution (W1x)

Olympic Qualification