Junior Women's Four (JW4-) - Final

The heats on Thursday had Germany record the fastest qualifying time and also earn a direct path to today’s final. They sat in lane three next to winner of the other heat, Italy. These crews met for the first time in today’s final. This boat class is not raced at the Olympics but it remains a popular boat among junior and university programmes.  The first to show was the United States crew which included two silver medallists from 2014. Germany followed in second. These two crews moved away from the rest of the field.

The United States had finished second to Germany in the heats, but they kept the tables turned as they headed through the middle of the race still in the lead. New Zealand, who came to the final through the repechage, followed in third. The race then began to really spread out and it would take a big closing sprint for the order to change. China then moved up on New Zealand with Germany trying to close on Gillingham, Blue, Moffat and Kynast of the United States.

Just a slight better catch and push by the United States held them ahead of Germany in the battle at the front of the field. But all eyes were on the bronze medal position. China had upped their stroke rate to 40 and got their nose ahead of New Zealand. The New Zealanders, at 35, looked to be losing the medal spot. But the Kiwis had not given up and in the last 20m New Zealand got themselves back into the bronze spot to earn it at the line by just 0.12 of a second.

Results: USA, GER, NZL, CHN, ITA, GBR

Dana Moffat (3) – USA – gold
“We knew we had to give everything and die on the finish line. But it was worth it. The whole race we were just a little bit in front and could hold this to the end.”

Leah Labudde – GER – silver
“We are happy to get a medal, silver is great. USA were in front from the start, we did many power bursts to try to catch them.”

Ella Greenslade (2) – NZL – bronze
“This medal means everything for us. To row on this course is unreal, it’s a very fair course, that’s all we can ask for.”

B-final

A two-boat race after Australia withdrew for medical reasons saw France absolutely dominate Russia and race their own race at the head of the field.

Results: FRA, RUS