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The semifinals yesterday saw Romania win one and Germany win the other with boat crews recording almost identical finishing times. Romania’s Elena Logofatu and Nicoleta Pascanu, however, had the far superior pedigree. Logofatu and Pascanu have won this event for the last two years. This feat is almost unheard of at the junior level with most athletes only making it to this event as 18-year-olds in their final year of eligibility. Logofatu and Pascanu had first won their medals at 16.

Romania took off at a 41 stroke rate pace with Germany’s  Annemieke Schanze and Frieda Hammerling using a 38 stroke rate start. By the first 500m mark Schanze and Hammerling had taken the lead making it look as though Romania had gone out too hard. Romania, meanwhile had Great Britain bearing down on them. Schanze and Hammerling then moved away to a clean lead. Romania would have to do some magic to retain their World Championship title.

With 200m to go Romania was just ahead of a now flying Valentina Iseppi and Allegra Francalacci of Italy. Romania, despite underrating the Italians, managed to remain in the silver medal spot. Schanze and Hammerling had rowed a beautifully timed race to take gold. Iseppi and Francalaccci’s finish strength earned them bronze.

Results: GER, ROU, ITA, GBR, AUS, HUN

 

Frieda Haemmerling (s) – GER – gold
“Everything worked out really well. We were early at the front and then I was thinking about the medal. I didn’t want to be second, so I pushed harder and harder.”

Elena Logofatu (b) – ROU – silver
“We like this race and we are happy with silver, it is a good result. To row here on the Lagoa is very spectacular.”

Valentina Iseppi (b) – ITA – bronze
We are happy as we didn’t expect to get third. This year was difficult for us, but now everything is fine. Now I am going on holiday before going back to training to prepare for the national championships.”


B-final

The United States and South Africa had the best results of these crews coming through from yesterday’s semifinals and it was Rosanne and Tayla May Bentley of South Africa that had the fastest start. Then Isabella Strickler and Elise Beuke of the United States took over in the lead which produced a huge cheer from the many US supporters seated at the finish line. Once in the lead Strickler and Beuke broke away from the field and worked their way to an open water lead.

Results: USA, RSA, NOR, CHN, BRA, SLO