International Events A Finals

This session of races had been delayed following a technical problem on the course earlier in the afternoon. Racing took place, but the last two medal ceremonies were to be postponed due to an incoming storm.

Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x) – Final A

It has been the style of Greece’s Alexandra Tsiavou to lead and win this season. The Under-23 and World Champion rowed in style. The fight went on for silver and bronze between Germany’s Marie-Louise Draeger and Brazil’s Fabiana Beltrame from the half-way mark. But in the final sprint, Draeger found a second wind and Tsiavou seemed to have no energy left. Draeger crossed the line in gold, Tsiavou in silver and Brazil’s Beltrame in bronze.

Results: GER1, GRE, BRA, GBR, ITA, IRL

Marie-Louise Draeger (GER) – Gold
I am so happy! This was my revenge for Bled. I really love these kind of conditions, so this was a great psychological advantage for me. I would like to stay in the single for the World Championships, but we will see what happens in the double tomorrow.”

Alexandra Tsiavou (GRE) – Silver
I had lost so much water in these conditions that I just needed some more time to recover after the race, and I had given it my all, it was a very hard race. I am not sure what I am doing between now and the World Championships, all my focus was on these World Cup events – a new training period begins””

Fabiana Beltrame (BRA) – Bronze
Winning feels fantastic! This is the first medal for Brazil in a very long time, and I cannot believe that I’ve managed to do it! I feel very, very, very proud! Rowing is not Brazil’s sport, so this is a big day for me, and all of Brazil!”

 

Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (LM1x) – Final A

Three-time World Champion Duncan Grant and Italy’s Marcello Miani lined up in the centre lanes in the Final of the lightweight men’s single sculls. Miani of Italy, a very tall sculler for a lightweight, led from the start and found a clear water lead by the 1500m mark. Looking left and right, Grant, back in fourth, suddenly realized how far ahead Miani was. Would he have what was needed to catch up? But Hungary’s Peter Galambos had a surprise in store.

Until then following Italy in second position, Galambos managed a huge sprint to close the open water gap with leader Italy and finished nearly three seconds ahead of the field, grabbing gold. Meanwhile, the Netherlands’ Jaap Schouten who had calmly followed in third also managed to take Miani by surprise and finish in silver. Miani takes bronze.

Results: HUN, NED, ITA, GRE, NZL, SVK

Peter Galambos (HUN) – Gold
“For me these conditions weren’t a problem and I had an incredible race – I will be hoping for a similar result in the World Championships!”

Jaap Schouten (NED) – Silver
"I’m very happy, it’s very unexpected as I’ve only been back in the single for a week and a half after having trained in the double, so I think I have lost about three or four second in the middle section. Hopefully I can get back in the double and win gold in New Zealand. As for the delays, they definitely helped as it’s cooled down a bit!"

Marcello Miani (ITA) – Bronze
“I’m disappointed, I think I went off too hard at the start. I didn’t realise I had such a big advantage at the 1000m mark. I also didn’t know that the Dutch guy had come past me in the last two strokes. I didn’t have anything left with 350m to go.”

 

Lightweight Men’s Pair (LM2-) – Final A

In Lane Two, Top 10 rower and Olympic Champion Jean-Christophe Bette lined up with teammate Fabien Tilliet, as France’s first crew. Two lanes down, another French boat prepared for the start, with Nicolas Moutton in bow and Thomas Baroukh in stroke as France’s second crew. In between these two crews sat Canada’s Matt Jensen and Rares Crisan. The Final of the lightweight men’s pair would largely be about these three crews, as Chile soon fell back from the third position they held in the first quarter of the race. From the half-way mark, these three boats raced neck and neck, with hardly anything between them. At the line, it would be France One, Canada and France Two.

Results: FRA1, CAN, FRA2, GBR, CHI, NED

Fabien Tilliet (FRA 1) – Gold
"I was happy with the way the race went, it was easier with the gap in racing so I had more time to recover between the races. We’re really pleased with how we are rowing. We are going to focus first on the European Rowing Championships, before the World Rowing Championships.”

Rares Crisan (CAN) – Silver
“I’m really pleased with how we executed our race – we went out fast then kept working really hard all the way through. Lucerne is beautiful – I love that the town is so close to the course, and the water is very fair.”

Matt Jensen (CAN) – Silver
“We’ve been in this combination for 3 weeks since we came over to Europe. I’ve been a sculler for 7 years and only just switched over to sweep. Next for me is back to Canada and then trials – I hope to make the lightweight four for the World Rowing Championships.”

Nicholas Moutton (FRA2) – Bronze
“We’re really happy and working well as a team. We are looking forward to the next races.”

Women’s Four (W4-) – Final A

Four crews lined up at the start. One would not medal. The medal positions seemed set from the start, with the USA in first, Germany in second and China in third. The USA increased their leading margin throughout the race, with China and Germany falling further behind. At the line, the USA crossed with an open water lead, Germany in silver and China in bronze half a boat’s length down. India finishes in fourth.

Results: USA, GER, CHN, IND

Mara Allen (USA) – Gold
“We had an awesome race – we went out a little hard, but then calmed down and settled into our rhythm.”

Jamie Redman (USA) – Gold
“I love it here! It’s so beautiful – it’s my first time in Lucerne.”

Sarah Zelenka (USA) – Gold
“I really want to make a boat, but we’ve got more trials when I get back so we shall see.”

Laura Larsen-Strecker (USA) – Gold
“I want to move here! The water is perfect, the area is beautiful, I just love it. The heat was a bit too much though.”

Constanze Siering (GER) – Silver 
"It was a good race given we’ve only been together a week, we’re very, very happy. It’s a pity we’re going to be broken up for the World and European Rowing Championships."

Xiaojie Liu (CHN) – Bronze
“This place is beautiful! I love it! The people are lovely too. This is our second time in Europe.”

Men’s Coxed Pair (M2+) – Final A

Italy and Australia lined up for a two-boat race. Both would medal, so the race would be for gold and nothing less. Australia’s Bryn Coudraye, Dominic Grimm and cox Toby Lister showed superior strength from the start, convincingly. During this race, weather temperatures dropped over the course, the sky became dark and changing winds picked up. This must have had a refreshing effect on the athletes, compared to the high temperatures rowers had to endure all afternoon. Australia finished comfortably in gold and Italy had to settle for silver.

Results: AUS, ITA

Dominic Grimm (AUS) – Gold
“We were happy with the race, the conditions picked up a bit, bit it was fairly flat throughout. We’ve raced together before so it wasn’t too much of an issue, we just popped Toby [Lister] upfront and he kept us on our toes.”

Emanuale Liuzzi ITA) – Silver
"That was a very long race into the headwind, and we are lighter and younger than the Australians. We did this for experience though, we’re both still under 23. It’s been great though, I’ve never been to Lucerne before and it’s beautiful." 

Lightweight Men’s Quadruple Sculls (LM4x) – Final A

Italy has a decade-long history of winning in this event, and although their top rower Daniele Gilardoni is no longer part of the boat, their aim is to stay true to their winning tradition. But it was Denmark who charged out in front at the start, with France in second. Italy was only back in fourth. At the half-way mark, Italy was still behind but had begun moving up the field. Denmark was falling behind. Italy continued its move, and with 500m left to row was in the lead. Germany One had pushed France back in third and taken second behind Italy. At the line, the positions remained unchanged. Italy takes gold, Germany One takes silver and France bronze.

As a big storm was brewing, the crews were asked not to stop at the medal podium and go directly back to the boat park.

Results: ITA, GER1, FRA, GER2, DEN, IRL

Lightweight Men’s Eight (LM8+) – Final A

Meanwhile, the two crews lining up in the lightweight men’s eight, Italy and the Netherlands, were racing down the course, no doubt in a hurry to reach the finish line fast before the storm. Italy had more stamina, finishing ten seconds ahead of the Netherlands. Both crews headed immediately back to the boat park in time to tie down their boats before the storm.

Results: ITA, NED